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The 2015 Rugby World Cup will see a few players represent a nation other than their birth country, with some poached by bigger sides and others settling for a lower level after failing to make Tier 1 squads.
Here are five players who have turned their back on their motherland and will now face them in this year’s tournament.
Josh Strauss
Strauss is a victim of South Africa’s strength and depth at back row. The Bellville-born No.8 will add some much needed muscle to Scotland’s World Cup hopes. Standing at six foot five and weighing 114 kilograms, Strauss was one of the star players for Glasgow Warriors as they won the Pro12.
Strauss set off for Europe after being overlooked for selection by the Springboks in 2012. This was despite scoring eight tries in thirty matches for the Lions. Strauss is now seeking revenge, and will look to unleash all of his anger on the Springboks when Scotland play South Africa on October 3.
The bulky Strauss, renowned for his ball carrying, won’t shy away from the physical confrontation against Duane Vermeulen. The former Lions captain last faced off against Vermeulen on the February 26, 2011 in a match the Stormers won.
Henry Speight
If you’re looking for x-factor, look no further than this man. He has electrifying pace, can step off both feet and has the offload to boot. The extremely talented Speight will hope to be involved in the Australian team that takes on Fiji on September 23.
Grandson of former Fiji president Ratu Josefa Iloilo, Henry Speight represented Fiji at the junior World Cup. He qualified to play for Australia on September 11 after serving his three years of qualification at the Brumbies.
The Fijian will need to fight off competition from the likes of Joe Tomane, Drew Mitchell and Rob Horne if he is to start in a match that will be crucial for both teams.
Tomas Francis
Arguably Wales’ most important player if Samson Lee fails to recover from his Achilles tendon injury. Tighthead prop is a position that has left Welsh fans with a lot of anguish since Adam Jones retired.
Francis, a powerful scrummager, weighs in at 135 kilograms and will hope to rectify Wales’ issues at scrum time. The Englishman qualifies to play for Wales through his grandmother and will make his debut for Wales against Ireland this Saturday.
England have used the scrum as a big mental hurdle in recent years against Wales. Francis will almost certainly have some role to play against England on September 26. If he can help Wales gain parity at the scrum it will go a long way to deciding the match.
Malakai Fekitoa
The elusive centre from Tonga has played a big part in the Highlanders’ success in recent seasons. For years Ma’a Nonu has been untouchable at inside centre but Fekitoa will look to put serious pressure on him at the World Cup.
During a visit to New Zealand in 2009, Fekitoa gained a rugby scholarship and enrolled at Wesley College. He made his debut as a replacement in the first Test of the 2014 June series against England.
Tonga will face New Zealand on October 9 in a match that could see Fekitoa get a chance to impress his coach. Renowned for his big hits there will be no shortage of physicality in this alluring match.
Billy Vunipola
Born in Brisbane, Billy Vunipola has taken an unconventional route to representing England. He is the son of former Tongan captain Fe’ao Vunipola and grew up in Wales before going to school in Harrow.
The 126-kilogram Vunipola is one of the deadliest ball carriers in world rugby and has recently added offloading to his skill set. Regularly used as a decoy, he is a vital cog in England’s running game.
Vunipola will hope to fight off stern competition from Ben Morgan to start the game against Australia on October 3. If he does, rugby spectators will be treated to a complete contrast in styles, between him and likely Australian No.8 David Pocock.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.