North vs South: What if Premiership Rugby did State of Origin?
Who would win in a North vs South, State of Origin style match between the Premiership’s finest?
Credit: Adam Davy PA Images via Getty Images
In recent weeks, New Zealand Rugby announced that they are bringing back the North Island vs South Island match to be played in August at the conclusion of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season.
It was played annually right up until the game went professional in 1996 when Super Rugby fixtures took most of the attention in New Zealand and gave the All Black selectors a headache for national team call-ups.
However, with COVID-19 playing havoc with the sporting calendar, it is now coming back to much fanfare with South African Rugby Union now organising their own version of the North vs South clash.
With the Premiership return at the forefront for English rugby, plans for a similar exhibition game in the UK will be very much on the backburner as clubs scramble to get the season completed by playing seven rounds of fixtures in just four weeks.
However, wouldn’t it be interesting to see what the two teams would look like? (Yes, it would)
We have split the country and the two teams along the M25, with Exeter Chiefs, Bristol Bears, Bath, London Irish, Harlequins and Saracens (despite imminent relegation) making up the southern contingent.
On the other side, Gloucester, Wasps, Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers, Worcester Warriors and Sale Sharks comprise a giant northern region.
Unlike State of Origin, who select the teams based on which team they made their debut for, we have grouped the players on which club they currently represent.
North XV
15 - George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
The man who emerged in the 15 shirt for England at the curtailed 2020 Six Nations gets the nod here. He has had a brilliant break out season, but shoutouts to Chris Pennell, Rob Miller and Simon Hammersely who will be knocking on the door.
14 - Jonny May (Gloucester)
The England try machine is a shoo-in for the right wing berth. Pace, strength and a born finisher, he gets the nod in a very competitive position for the northerners.
13 - Manu Tuilagi (Sale)
Sale or Leicester, the rampaging Tuilagi would slot in nicely at outside centre for this side. So long as he’s fit, he would punch holes for our hypothetical North team.
Manu Tuilagi recently joined Sale Sharks in move rumoured to earn him £300,000 a year and keeps his England career alive
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12 - Piers Francis (Northampton Saints)
A man who has had terrible luck with injuries, he is now a mainstay when fit in Chris Boyd’s exciting Saints team. A skilful playmaker with an eye for a try, could feasibly add to the seven England caps he has after debuting in 2017.
11 - Ollie Thorley (Gloucester)
A tough spot to pick considering Denny Solomona, Marland Yarde, Josh Bassett and Zach Kibirigie could all slot in, but the Gloucester dynamo just has the edge. A great finisher with serious wheels, will surely make his international debut soon.
10 - Danny Cipriani (Gloucester)
Uncle Eddie may not pick you, but we love you at The Flanker. Quite simply a genius on his day, the mercurial man takes the number 10 shirt with the steady George Ford off the bench. James Grayson and Jacob Umaga are undoubtedly ones for the future.
9 - Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
The incumbent England scrumhalf, the Tigers stalwart had an excellent 2019 World Cup and needs to help dig the Tigers out of a big hole. Alex Mitchell, Dan Robson, Joe Simpson and Willi Heinz all will be knocking on the door but Youngs keeps getting better with age.
8 - Ben Morgan (Gloucester)
Fell away from the international scene in recent times, but the big man remains a destructive ball carrier in Premiership rugby and fearsome tackler.
7 - Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
England’s best player at the 2019 World Cup and the sky is the limit for this guy. Nuff said.
6 - Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints)
Vastly improved since Chris Boyd’s arrival at the East Midlands club, he is an animal in the carry and defence. People remember him for being hooked after 20 minutes against Australia in 2016, but is a far far better player now. Shoutouts for Lewis Ludlam and Jack Willis though.
Teimana Harrison dives over for a try against Clermont in the Champions Cup in January 2018
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5 - Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
At 31, he is no spring chicken but remains a phenomenal athlete in the second row. His tackling is still bone shuddering while he has worked hard at his carrying and loose play. If the body holds up, could make the next Lions tour and 2023 World Cup.
4 - Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Quite frankly, an outstanding pairing at lock. Launchbury is a pure workhorse, covering every blade of grass as he puts his body on the line. He has always dovetailed with Lawes nicely as their skills compliment each other, with Launchbury hitting every breakdown he can.
3 - Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
There is life in the old dog yet. Cole still is one of the best English scrummagers in the Premiership but his international ambitions look to have ended after being overlooked for the Sic Nations. Still makes our North XV, though.
2 - Tommy Taylor (Wasps)
A very, very underrated player in The Flanker’s eyes. Maybe not the greatest at set piece but is a brilliant athlete who gets round the park. Provides nice touches in the wide challenges and gets through his carries. A solid choice at hooker.
1 - Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Rounding off our North team is the baby rhino himself. A truly rampaging presence, his scrummaging has improved massively in recent seasons. On his day, can be a real nuisance with his carrying and has a sharp turn of pace.
Head Coach - Chris Boyd (Northampton Saints)
Revolutionised Saints since he came in 2018. A team that had gone stale under Jim Mallinder was galvanised into a side full of exciting youth prospects and attacking flair. With Saracens demise, his team are now the main threat to Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership.
South XV
15 - Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Despite having his critics for not being regarded as a natural fullback, the Saracens man is a brilliant all round player who can slot in anywhere in the backs. A solid boot, good pace and nose for a gap, he starts off the South XV on a strong note.
14 - Anthony Watson (Bath)
A jet heeled wizard with a good positional and defensive game, he makes up part of a tasty back three. Fellow Bath lads Ruardiah McConnochie and Joe Cokanasiga will pressure him for game time at club and country however.
13 - Jonathan Joseph (Bath)
Injuries have blighted his recent years but when hes on song he looks like the second coming of Jeremy Guscott or Tim Horan. An elegant operator at 13, he glides through defences with ease with those magic feet of his.
12 - Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
One of the outstanding players for England at last years World Cup, the Chiefs man is a great second playmaker in this team. A multi faceted player who never lets you down, he gets in over teammate Ollie Devoto or youngster Cameron Redpath.
11 - Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Speed merchant, power, defence, positional play. British and Irish Lion Nowell is, arguably, the best all round winger in the Northern Hemisphere. Granted, some guys may score more tries or make more line breaks, but this guy just brings consistency week in week out.
10 - Owen Farrell (Saracens)
England captain, British and Irish Lion and 3x World Rugby Player of the Year nominee. Need I say more?
9 - Ben Spencer (Bath)
Recently joined the West Country side on a three-year deal, he is a terrier of a number 9. Provides great ball speed out the ruck, solid box kicker and chips in with tries, he is the heir apparent for Ben Youngs. Danny Care, Jack Maunder and Harry Randall unlucky to miss out.
Ben Spencer came on in the 2019 World Cup Final after replacing the injured Willi Heinz in the squad
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8 - Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
The man mountain comes in at 8 with his ball carrying power needed to give the South XV go forward ball. Will be a shame not to see him in the Premiership next season, but Nathan Hughes and Zach Mercer are nipping at his heels for this spot.
7 - Sam Underhill (Bath)
Compliments Vunipola nicely as this man is the best English ruck merchant in the Premiership. Will tackle anyone and has worked hard to improve his handling game. A must pick for the 7 shirt but Jackson Wray or Jack Clifford are able deputies.
6 - Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Arguably the hardest spot to choose given Dave Ewers, Don Armand, Mike Williams and Ben Earl could all easily slot in here. However, Simmonds had just been finding his best form until the 2019/20 season was stopped. Only six foot or not, he’s simply a brilliant player.
5 - Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Undisputed first choice in this team and our combined British and Irish Lions team against South Africa next year. Next question.
4 - Charlie Ewels (Bath)
Ewels is only 25 but is club captain for Bath and will surely be in for more England caps now George Kruis is Japan bound and Courtney Lawes the wrong side of 30. A great lineout leader and breakdown operator, his presence will give Itoje more license to get around the park.
Bath captain Charlie Ewels is now pushing for further international honours and would slot nicely into a South XV second row
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3 - Kyle Sinckler (Bristol)
Great scrummager, good defender but simply outstanding in the loose. Has the hands of a centre with his deft touches and offloads, with his injury withdrawal in the 2019 World Cup final a key turning point in the game. Harry Williams and Henry Thomas will be waiting in the wings.
2 - Jamie George (Saracens)
Doubts still remain over his set piece ability but in the loose he is outstanding. A try scoring threat who loves to get into the wide channels, he is secretly a frustrated back at heart. Harry Thacker, Tom Dunn and Luke Cowan-Dickie simply not on George’s level as of yet.
1 - Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Still only 29, Vunipola feels like he has been around for ages but has plenty of rugby left in him. His scrummaging has improved tenfold over the years and his all round game is unrivalled for a front rower. Old rival Joe Marler to come off the bench for him at 60 mins in this make believe game.
Head Coach - Rob Baxter (Exeter Chiefs)
When he was given the head coach gig of Championship team Chiefs in 2009, even in his wildest dreams he can’t have imagined the success he would achieve culminating in that 2017 Premiership title. Baxter surely has to take the England job when Eddie Jones steps aside.