Which Northern Hem Players Would Make An Impact In Super Rugby?

Title says it all really. There are already a few playing down there in the guise of Delve, Cipriani, Haskell and Michalak. But without wanting to sound rude, they haven't exactly set the competition alight, well not for the right reasons anyway.

So do you think would make a big impact? Here are two of my own choices and I'll leave the rest to you-

Stephen Ferris- Probably one of the most powerful and dynamic backrowers in the game. Would be interesting to see how Super sides utilised his speed and dynamism in the sometimes more open pastures of Southern Hemisphere rugby.

Mamukha Gorgodze- Would just love to see the Georgian be just like he is up here, a real wrecking ball on the pitch.

Ruan Pienaar, Johan Muller, Pedrie Wannenberg and Stefan Terbanche for the Lions.

Francois Michelak, Gareth Delve, and..................Cippy!

hard to say, style is so different. After completely failing with leinster, sykes set up a beaut of a try with the sharks about a week ago, looked a different player

I think Delve has made some impact Munsty -FANS AWARD

I think it has a lot to do with adaptability to different conditions.

A guy like Ruan Pienaar for example surprised me that he adapted so well. He comes from the cold hard dry fileds of the free state, it is one of the flattest pieces of land you can find. Doesn't get much rainfall and he most likely saw mud for the first time he landed in europe.

So I guess it depends on whether you can adapt to conditions, cultures etc.

I know Victor Matfield came back early from France, so not all great players can adapt, and there are probably a couple who you might not deem the best that would.

Rob Kearney, Sam Warburton, Cian Healy, Ben Foden, Toby Faletau, Jamie Heaslip, Gethin Jenkins. There's loads more. But off the top of my head (oooerr), those are a few who I believe would love it and be loved down there. And those who I believe would thrive in S15 Rugby. Do em good.

biltongbek wrote:Ruan Pienaar, Johan Muller, Pedrie Wannenberg and Stefan Terbanche for the Lions.

You may as well say the Ulster team, sure it's basically a Springboks exile 15.

ian madigan would have a lovely aul time

John Afoa,Dougie Howlett,Isa Ncacewa, and about a dozen others would make a good impact if they can get back to Eden park by 7.30 pm tomorrow night.

aucklandlaurie wrote: John Afoa,Dougie Howlett,Isa Ncacewa, and about a dozen others would make a good impact if they can get back to Eden park by 7.30 pm tomorrow night.

I am sorry Laurie, I know it hurts, but that was funny.

i think gethin jenkis definately the pace of the games would suit him down to theground

I think somone like Faletau would fit in easily.

Anyone quick who likes ball carrying and has average defence, hates mauling and scrummaging

hugo124 wrote:ian madigan would have a lovely aul time

He would. Would really help him flourish quicker too. He's got the lot and more that fella.

Gavin Henson....

Cari wrote:Gavin Henson....

No, NO, NO!

15 new clubs to feic up at. He could be there for a whole year.

Thats a plus.

Can't look much further than Richie Gray IMO - massively athletic, powerful, ball handling lock. Perfect for an Aussie or Kiwi team!

Delve, Michalak and Haskell all seem to coping very well from what I've seen.

RDW, now you are downright discriminating, why not us?

Great call on Gray. He'd love it. They'd love it. Big time.

Tim Visser to a Saffer team? Has Dutch already.

I think James Hook would fit right into a NZ franchise.

Others from Wales who would show up well in the S15 are North, Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts; forwards Warburton, Faletau, (Ian) Evans...

Bathite wrote:Anyone quick who likes ball carrying and has average defence, hates mauling and scrummaging

Don't you mean anyone fast who can catch, pass and secure ruck ball before the defence has time to set



Actually this year defences have caught up in the eternal arms race that is Super Rugby. Odds are next year the offence will step up again.

Gethin Jenkins would have to be another.

biltongbek wrote:RDW, now you are downright discriminating, why not us?

Just think he'd be more suited to the more fast paced style of the Aussie or kiwi teams, as opposed to the more grunt and muscle of the south African teams!

Biltong do you fancy Dave Denton? He's Zim after all and a great tackler and carrier.

Ben Foden, Jonny Sexton, Nevin Spence, Ian Madigan, Sean O'Brien, Thierry Dusautoir, Denton, AdamJones, Danny Barnes, Trinh-Duc, Alex Cuthbert

I think O'Brien especially would be class playing down in the SH.

justified sinner wrote:Biltong do you fancy Dave Denton? He's Zim after all and a great tackler and carrier.

Yeah, he reminds me of Keegan Daniel of the Sharks, great ball carrier.

Johnny May defo...and James Simpson Daniel (even at this late stage) , Shane Williams....etc you know players with skill....and pace...

Sexton would thrive in the SH game.
Nathan Hines is another.

For the Irish, i think Madigan, Ferris, SOB and Kearney would be perfect for the Super Rugby.

Don't shoot me but I think Chris Ashton would be phenominal in SupR, his style of play is perfect for teams like the Crusaders.

Joe Marler was born to play S15, he'd fit in perfectly with his pace and running game.

Actually I'd be intersted to see how any of the big name NH props got on down there so Cole, Healy, Jenkins etc

Some of you might think Im completely mad saying this,but the player from the Northern hemisphere who when I watch play would go well especially here in New Zealand,and Pot Hale and Mikado have picked him and that is Jonathan Sexton,this player has a lot more to offer rugby than he has shown so far,put him inside a busy mid field,that can move the opposition defensive line and he would be away.

Some good choices - would be a scoosh for Hines (he's played both codes in Aussie growing up anyway), they love their loosies in Super 15 so Denton, Warbuton, Rennie, Morgan and Lydiate would be valued and any fullback who can return a kick with interest would be valued (Kearney, Foden and Ha'penny).

Only very explosive backs would make any press at all - only the likes of Bowe, Visser, Sharples and so forth would feature. There are dozens of Tualagi-esque bruisers out there already.

aucklandlaurie wrote: Some of you might think Im completely mad saying this,but the player from the Northern hemisphere who when I watch play would go well especially here in New Zealand,and Pot Hale and Mikado have picked him and that is Jonathan Sexton,this player has a lot more to offer rugby than he has shown so far,put him inside a busy mid field,that can move the opposition defensive line and he would be away.

I'd say the Hurricanes would be a good franchise for him.

Oops, yeah i forgot Sexton. He would do really well in the Super Rugby. I would actually like to see more players from the NH join the super rugby for a season or so. The experience and understanding of that rugby may help to close the gap between the NH and SH countries.

Attacking fly-halves like Sexton and Burns, I think would really make an impact in super rugby.

There are many Heineken cup players who could cut it in Super xv, but the difference I see in Sexton is that he is one that if he had a go at Super xv would grow and develop in the different environment.

biltongbek wrote:Ruan Pienaar, Johan Muller, Pedrie Wannenberg and Stefan Terbanche for the Lions.

roddersm wrote:

biltongbek wrote:Ruan Pienaar, Johan Muller, Pedrie Wannenberg and Stefan Terbanche for the Lions.

Worried there, mate?

Stop raiding our Ulsterman Biltong ya Bollix! Feic off and develop yer own players!

roddersm wrote:Stop raiding our Ulsterman Biltong ya Bollix! Feic off and develop yer own players!

We're trying Rodders, we are really trying, but we just don't have the necessary talent or depth or player resources you guys have.

I really think Ian Humphreys would be a hit in the SH.


But only if we can have Carter in exchange . We'll throw in Simon Danielli as well.

Tom Croft would be loved in Aus, as would Ben Youngs and Foden. Manu Tuilagi would probably go well in NZ and Owen Farrell would find a home in SA very quickly (he plays a bit like Mourne as is). I think Dan Cole would probably fit in well in SA as they like their scrummaging props who can do a bit in the loose.

Out of interest to our Aussie, Kiwi and South African friends, how is the likes of the Heineken cup viewed in your countries? Do they see it is a worthy tournament or does it not get much interest? What players are well known in your countries based on the likes of the Heineken cup?

George North
Louis Picamoles
Wesley Fofana
Ben Foden
Dan Cole
Gethin Jenkins
Sergio Parisse
Richie Grey
Dave Denton
Nicholas Mas
Ian Evans
Jonathan Sexton
Paul O'Connell
Cian Healey
Sam Warburton
Toby Faletau
Jonathan Davies (JD2)

I think most of the better players from the top 8/10 HC teams would make an impact in the super 15, and vice versa.

Those are the ones who I think would make a noticeable impact on any nearly team they joined.

RDW

The first problem in SA is that we do not see all the games, so a lot of context in relation to the tournament is lost.

The second problem is the make up of the NH season, it is all over the place, I myself prefer to follow one tournament to it's conclusion and then move on to the next.

So due to this it is difficult to get "into" it. That's why I enjoyed the Six nations more, it started and finished in a relatviely short period of time.

As far as the quality goes, it is definitely slower at the breakdown, and although it is good to watch (I watched three of the four semi finals on the weekend) it doesn't have the flair of the Super XV.

That doesn't mean it is inferior to the Super XV, it is more physical brawn and tactical play for territory vs momentum and rythm to find holes in defence.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Can't look much further than Richie Gray IMO - massively athletic, powerful, ball handling lock. Perfect for an Aussie or Kiwi team!

same here! I would have loved to have seen him playing in the super 15, but I guess that would prevent him from playing for Scotland. Can't wait to see how he fairs at Sale.