1984 v Australia (Twickenham) L 19-3
1985 v Ireland (Dublin) L 13-10 (FN)
1985 v Wales (Cardiff) L 24-15 (FN)
1985 v New Zealand (Christchurch) L 18-13
1985 v New Zealand (Wellington) L 42-15
1986 v Wales (Twickenham) W 21-18 (FN)
1986 v Scotland (Murrayfield) L 33-6 (FN)
1986 v Ireland (Twickenham) W 25-20 (FN)
1986 v France (Paris) L 29-10 (FN)
|
1988 v France (Paris) L 10-9 (FN)
1988 v Wales (Twickenham) L 11-3 (FN)
1988 v Scotland (Murrayfield) W 9-6 (FN)
1988 v Ireland (Twickenham) W 35-3 (FN)
Career Record: P13, W4, L9
Test Points: 0
(R) = Replacement
|

This picture of Nigel Melville was taken on 16th January 1988 by George Herringshaw. ©
Nigel Melville was a highly gifted scrum-half who probably never
fulfilled his true potential thanks to injury and an inconsistent
selection policy. A loyal servant of the Wasps club, Nigel had one of
the best passes in the game and his leadership qualities earned him the
England captaincy on no fewer than three separate occasions. A 23 year
old Nigel was first made captain on his debut against Australia at
Twickenham in 1984, a match which saw England lose to the Wallabies at
home for the first time since 1967. The following year veteran centre
Paul Dodge was given the captaincy, but Nigel played in four tests,
including two on tour in New Zealand. For the 1986 season Melville was
again made captain, but it was a mixed Five Nations for England and
included a record 33-6 hammering by Scotland.
Nigel was dropped
altogether in 1987 thanks to the reappearance of Richard Hill and he
missed out on the subsequent World Cup where Richard Harding deputised
after Hill's suspension. Melville was back in the side for the 1988 Five
Nations and resumed the captaincy for a third time when incumbent
skipper Mike Harrison was dropped following a heavy defeat by Wales.
Nigel led his men to triumph over Scotland at Murrayfield, but then
suffered a serious ankle injury in the next game against Ireland at
Twickenham. The Wasps scrum-half was carried off with his team down 3-0,
but watched as England scored 35 points in the second half to register a
most unlikely victory. The injury was enough to finish Melville's
international career after just 13 caps, but he continued to play for
Wasps for some years afterwards. In retirement Nigel moved upstairs and
enjoyed successful spells as a coach and administrator at Wasps and
Gloucester. (Jon Collins)
|