Who would win in a showdown between the All-Saffa Six Nations XV and their New Zealand counterparts?
Having picked an SA-born team earlier this week, the SARugbymag team has chosen a lineup comprising NZ-born players to have done duty in the Six Nations championship.
15 Jared Payne (Ireland)
The former New Zealand U21, Chiefs, Crusaders and Blues playmaker made 20 appearances for Ireland between 2014 and 2017.
14 Sean Maitland (Scotland)
The ex-Crusaders wing/fullback debuted for Scotland in 2013. He played in multiple Six Nations campaigns, scoring crucial tries and featuring in two Rugby World Cups.
13 Tony Marsh (France)
Originally from Rotorua, the hard-running centre earned 21 caps for France from 2001 to 2004. He played a key role in the 2002 Six Nations Grand Slam-winning championship for Les Bleus.
12 Bundee Aki (Ireland)
The Auckland-born powerhouse remains a vital cog in midfield for Ireland after qualifying on residency in 2017. He previously starred in their 2018 and 2023 Grand Slam-winning Six Nations campaigns.
11 James Lowe (Ireland)
A dynamic and creative winger, Lowe debuted in 2020 and became a Six Nations standout. He played a crucial role in Ireland’s 2023 Grand Slam triumph.
10 Gareth Anscombe (Wales)
The former Blues and Chiefs playmaker debuted for Wales in 2015 after representing New Zealand at U20 level. He has earned 35 Test caps, and helped steer Wales to Six Nations Grand Slam glory in 2019. Despite injuries disrupting his career, he featured in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups.
9 Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
A slick-passing scrumhalf, Gibson-Park has become Ireland’s first-choice No 9, and played a key role in their 2022 and 2023 Six Nations title wins.
8 Thomas Waldron (England)
Waldron earned five caps between 2012 and 2013. Despite his club success with Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs, the former Hurricanes and Crusaders No 8 struggled to cement a regular spot in England’s squad.
7 Martin Leslie (Scotland)
The tireless flanker earned 37 caps between 1998- and 2003, and was instrumental in Scotland’s 1999 Five Nations title-winning campaign.
6 Brad Shields (England)
Shields earned eight caps from the side of the scrum for England following his debut in 2018. He played in the Six Nations and summer tours but never cemented a regular place.
5 Dean Budd (Italy)
A mobile lock, Budd played 29 Tests for Italy from 2017 to 2019. He featured in multiple Six Nations campaigns, providing athleticism in the second row.
4 Emmanuel Meafou (France)
The towering Meafou debuted for France in 2024, and has quickly became a key figure in their forward pack, adding power and dominance in the tight exchanges.
3 Uini Atonio (France)
Atonio has been a mainstay as France’s scrum anchor since 2014, and featured prominently in their 2022 and 2023 Six Nations campaigns.
2 Dylan Hartley (England)
Raised in Rotorua, the combative Hartley captained England to a Grand Slam in 2016, and is tied with Jamie George as the country’s most-capped hooker (97).
1 Mako Vunipola (England)
Born in Wellington but raised in Tonga, the loosehead prop was an influential member in England’s pack following his 2012 debut. He starred in several Six Nations-winning campaigns and formed a powerful forward partnership with his younger brother, Billy, in the national team.
Management team
Head coach: Graham Henry (Wales). Assistant coaches: Joe Schmidt (Ireland), Steve Hansen (Wales), Vern Cotter (Scotland), Kieran Crowley (Italy).
All-Saffa Six Nations XV
15 Scott Spedding (France)
14 Kyle Steyn (Scotland)
13 Stuart Abbott (England)
12 Brad Barritt (England)
11 Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
10 Mike Catt (England)
9 Rory Kockott (France)
8 CJ Stander (Ireland)
7 Bernard le Roux (France)
6 Braam Steyn (Italy)
5 Paul Willemse (France)
4 Jean Kleyn (Ireland)
3 WP Nel (Scotland)
2 Rob Herring (Ireland)
1 Pierre Schoeman (Scotland)
Management team
Head coach: Nick Mallett (Italy). Defence coach: Brendan Venter (Italy). Attack coach: Franco Smith (Italy). Forwards coach: Gert Smal (Ireland). Scrum coach: Pieter de Villiers (France). Kicking coach: Vlok Cilliers (France).
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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