Here, there and everywhere

Watch a Rugby World Cup match and there's a fair chance New Zealand will have an interest - even if the All Blacks aren't playing.

There are more New Zealanders - and players who have appeared for teams in New Zealand - scattered among the 20 countries at the tournament than any other nationality.

Players with New Zealand connections will be involved in 12 teams, and that is not counting John Hart's All Blacks.

Some of the links are tenuous - Argentina's propping contingent, for example, includes Omar Hasan, who spent 1997 and 1998 in Wellington, where he had a handful of NPC first division games.

Others, such as Japan, suggest a strong New Zealand influence on the playing strategy.

Their pack includes former All Blacks Jamie Joseph and Rob Gordon, a former Canterbury representative loose forward in Greg Smith while Graeme Bachop, a World Cup representative at the last two tournaments in the black jersey, will be an influential figure.

On top of that their captain is a New Zealander with a famous All Black name - midfield back Andrew McCormick, a longtime resident in Japan, and son of the renowned test fullback Fergie McCormick.

Pool A includes the Scots, who can match Japan for their New Zealand interest.

The backline includes a former Waikato representative in Glenn Metcalfe at fullback, Shaun Longstaff on one wing had an occasional appearance for Wellington, Cameron Mather spent time in North Harbour while John Leslie's switch of allegiance has transformed the Scottish back division.

His brother Martin, for years a valuable Wellington player, has boosted the loose forward division, and Gordon Simpson, late of Wellington and North Harbour, is also an asset for the Scots.

In Pool B, Tonga's squad includes Taunaholo Taufahema, who played NPC rugby for Auckland, as did prop Ngalu Ta'u; Brian Wooley, Benhur Kivalu and Tamieni Penisini have Wellington connections.

Then there's the All Blacks, and, to really stretch a point, England captain Martin Johnson, was a New Zealand Colt in 1990, and came under the eye of Colin Meads during a stint at King Country.

Duane Major was a New Zealand under-19 trialist, and has been in Canterbury's NPC squad; now he wears the maple leaf jersey, courtesy of a Canadian-born mother, in Pool C.

The ties to New Zealand are strong among the Pacific nations and Fiji have several players with links to the game here.

The backs include former Canterbury midfield back Tabai Matson, Auckland winger Waisake Sotutu; Nicky and Lawrence Little - formerly of Canterbury and North Harbour, and Waikato and King Country respectively - ex-Otago speedster Manasa Bari, Northland's Fero Lasagavibau and Alfred Uluinayau, the former Auckland representative.

The pack is bolstered by Counties-Manukau loose forward Api Naevo, Waikato hooker Greg Smith is skipper, and former Queensland representative Ilie Tabua while veteran Joe Veitayaki, who has been around several North Island provincial sides, anchors the scrum.

Pool D is flush with faces familiar to New Zealand watchers. Besides the Japanese contingent, Wales and Samoa have strong connections.

Fullback Shane Howarth and flanker Brett Sinkinson were astute picks by Wales' coach Graham Henry when he took up the reins last year, while the Samoans are loaded with New Zealand born, educated, trained or domiciled players.

Finally in Pool E, Ireland have long-serving former Auckland hooker Ross Nesdale and flanker Andy Ward, who struggled to make an impact with Waikato early in the 1990s and former Harbour utility back Mike Mullins.

Australia could have a New Zealand-born hooker in Jeremy Paul.

To round New Zealand's contribution to the rugby United Nations, there is the United States, and their halfback Jesse Coulson. His pedigree includes Hamilton Old Boys, age group representation in England, Manawatu under-19, Waikato Development squad.

How did he come to figure in the American World Cup squad? His mother was born there.

That's the players, now for the coaches....