England fullback Bill Johnston, one of a remarkable succession of Bristol players to hold the position, was Irish-born. A debutant against Wales in 1910, he enhanced the solid impression made on that occasion with a brave defensive display against Ireland a month later, frequently halting Irish footrushes by diving among their feet - a requirement of old-style fullback that helps explain why his eventual tally of 16 caps would remain an English record until overtaken by Bob Hiller in the early 1970s.