Best Imports XV

[Flakey 16]

Ok it is the silly season... what do you think of this XV for the best imports since 2007 at Irish provinces...

1. Ollie Le Roux (Leinster) (SA)
2. Richardt Strauss (Leinster) (SA-IRL)
3. BJ Botha (Ulster/Munster) (SA)
4. Brad Thorn (Leinster) (NZ)
5. Nathan Hines (Leinster) (SCO)
6. Rocky Elsom (Leinster) (AUS)
7. ?
8. Pedrie Wannenberg (Ulster) (SA)
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster) (SA)
10. Felipe Contepomi (Leinster) (ARG)
11. Isa Nacewa (Leinster) (FIJI)
12. Rua Tipoki (Munster) (NZ)
13. Jean De Villiers (Munster) (SA)
14. Doug Howlett (Munster) (NZ)
15. Christian Cullen (Munster) (NZ)

[Peg Leg]

Gleeson @ 7

[offshorerules]

Jim Williams at Munster would have to be in that side. Sorry Rocky. But do you mean the best player to be imported or the one who had the best impact? Because Cullen did virtually nothing here as he arrived a broken man and De Villiers was brutal during his short stay.

[AwayTheWell]

Jim Williams at Munster would have to be in that side. Sorry Rocky. But do you mean the best player to be imported or the one who had the best impact? Because Cullen did virtually nothing here as he arrived a broken man and De Villiers was brutal during his short stay.

Well Rocky rules state since 2007 - so William would be ruled out. Though think that Cullen arrived well before then as well. Would have Shaun and Jared Payne ahead of him in any case for their impact after arriving in Ireland. Though don't think De Villiers was all that bad at all. Just didn't seem to fit in but his performances weren't all that bad. Probably keep him in ahead of Casey.
Maybe also a case for Johann Muller who I may put in ahead of Thorn. A big player no doubt but a very short term stay and impacted hugely in one match (Clermont) that took potential champions to champions. Muller may not have the medals for his longer stint but has helped add some grit to Ulster and helped turn them for also-rans to perennial challengers.

[offshorerules]

Jim Williams at Munster would have to be in that side. Sorry Rocky. But do you mean the best player to be imported or the one who had the best impact? Because Cullen did virtually nothing here as he arrived a broken man and De Villiers was brutal during his short stay.

Well Rocky rules state since 2007 - so William would be ruled out. Though think that Cullen arrived well before then as well. Would have Shaun and Jared Payne ahead of him in any case for their impact after arriving in Ireland. Though don't think De Villiers was all that bad at all. Just didn't seem to fit in but his performances weren't all that bad. Probably keep him in ahead of Casey.
Maybe also a case for Johann Muller who I may put in ahead of Thorn. A big player no doubt but a very short term stay and impacted hugely in one match (Clermont) that took potential champions to champions. Muller may not have the medals for his longer stint but has helped add some grit to Ulster and helped turn them for also-rans to perennial challengers.

Didn't spot the 2007 rule so I accept that now. Have you forgotten how easily DeVilliers got skinned vs O'Driscoll? He looked like he wasn't interested.

[ceemec]

JdV had a torried few opening months at Munster but he recovered strongly in the second half of the season and was arguably their best player for the last 4-5 months of his stay.

[offshorerules]

JdV had a torried few opening months at Munster but he recovered strongly in the second half of the season and was arguably their best player for the last 4-5 months of his stay.

4-5 weeks maybe.

[ceemec]

He was really good from Christmas onwards and was a mainstay of the team. Once they figured out how to use him and stop screwing around, he was an important player in both HEC and the league. Munster would have bitten his hand off if he had offered to extend his contract.

[offshorerules]

Can't see us agreeing on him to be honest as I think you're probably overplaying his importance and I'm possibly doing the opposite.

[Donny B.]

1. Stan Wright (Leinster) Sorry Ollie but Stan was around longer and was excellent for us
2. Richardt Strauss (Leinster) (SA-IRL)
3. John Afoa (Ulster) (NZ) - On his day, unplayable
4. Johann Muller (Ulster) (SA) - Again, Thorn was only here a wet week
5. Nathan Hines (Leinster) (SCO)
6. Rocky Elsom (Leinster) (AUS)
7. Jack Heenan (Connacht) (NZ) - A little premature, but not a lot to pick from really
8. George Naoupu (Ulster) (NZ) - Wannenburg wasn't really all that
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster) (SA)
10. Felipe Contepomi (Leinster) (ARG)
11. Isa Nacewa (Leinster) (FIJI)
12. Jean De Villiers (Munster)(SA)
13. Rua Tipoki (Munster) (NZ)
14. Doug Howlett (Munster) (NZ)
15. Jared Payne - Cullen was one of my favorite ever players but we never saw any of that form in his time with Munster.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Yeah Stan Wright is a must!

10. Holwell
12. Felipe
13. Tipoki

Honourable mention to Shaun Payne as well, always a big fan of his.

[Donny B.]

Yeah Stan Wright is a must!

10. Holwell
12. Felipe
13. Tipoki

Honourable mention to Shaun Payne as well, always a big fan of his.

A bit of a cheat surely? His brilliant season for us was pre-2007, although he did have a short cameo in 2008.

[Alternative Ulster]

8. George Naoupu (Ulster)

Not Connacht?

[Donny B.]

8. George Naoupu (Ulster)

Not Connacht?

Yeah Connacht. Actually had Nick Williams in there first but changed to Naoupa

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Yeah Stan Wright is a must!

10. Holwell
12. Felipe
13. Tipoki

Honourable mention to Shaun Payne as well, always a big fan of his.

A bit of a cheat surely? His brilliant season for us was pre-2007, although he did have a short cameo in 2008.

A little bit, but I thought that might be allowed in a team that doesn't exist

[Sea_point]

1. Stan Wright (Leinster) Sorry Ollie but Stan was around longer and was excellent for us
2. Richardt Strauss (Leinster) (SA-IRL)
3. John Afoa (Ulster) (NZ) - On his day, unplayable
4. Johann Muller (Ulster) (SA) - Again, Thorn was only here a wet week
5. Nathan Hines (Leinster) (SCO)
6. Rocky Elsom (Leinster) (AUS)
7. Jack Heenan (Connacht) (NZ) - A little premature, but not a lot to pick from really
8. George Naoupu (Ulster) (NZ) - Wannenburg wasn't really all that
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster) (SA)
10. Felipe Contepomi (Leinster) (ARG)
11. Isa Nacewa (Leinster) (FIJI)
12. Jean De Villiers (Munster)(SA)
13. Rua Tipoki (Munster) (NZ)
14. Doug Howlett (Munster) (NZ)
15. Jared Payne - Cullen was one of my favorite ever players but we never saw any of that form in his time with Munster.

For me:
7. Ray Ofisa - Jake Heenan is indeed a great prospect though.

4. Thorn is a fantastic player but he didn't even do a full season for Leinster. So for overall contribution Andrew Farley instead of Thorn at Lock, seven seasons at Connacht barely missing a single game, three seasons as Captain, Ireland A international. Always surprised me that on of the other provinces didn't come in for him, unbelievably consistent and a born leader...

[Donny B.]

1. Stan Wright (Leinster) Sorry Ollie but Stan was around longer and was excellent for us
2. Richardt Strauss (Leinster) (SA-IRL)
3. John Afoa (Ulster) (NZ) - On his day, unplayable
4. Johann Muller (Ulster) (SA) - Again, Thorn was only here a wet week
5. Nathan Hines (Leinster) (SCO)
6. Rocky Elsom (Leinster) (AUS)
7. Jack Heenan (Connacht) (NZ) - A little premature, but not a lot to pick from really
8. George Naoupu (Ulster) (NZ) - Wannenburg wasn't really all that
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster) (SA)
10. Felipe Contepomi (Leinster) (ARG)
11. Isa Nacewa (Leinster) (FIJI)
12. Jean De Villiers (Munster)(SA)
13. Rua Tipoki (Munster) (NZ)
14. Doug Howlett (Munster) (NZ)
15. Jared Payne - Cullen was one of my favorite ever players but we never saw any of that form in his time with Munster.

For me:
7. Ray Ofisa - Jake Heenan is indeed a great prospect though.

4. Thorn is a fantastic player but he didn't even do a full season for Leinster. So for overall contribution Andrew Farley instead of Thorn at Lock, seven seasons at Connacht barely missing a single game, three seasons as Captain, Ireland A international. Always surprised me that on of the other provinces didn't come in for him, unbelievably consistent and a born leader...

Yeah Ofisa is a good call. As for Thorn I didn't pick him either, I picked Muller, who I'd also have ahead of Fairley, fine play that he was.