Best Southern Hemishpere signing.

myflipflops

After Rocky Elsom's perfromance against Quins and his form this season, it got me thinking - is he the best Southern Hemishpere signing made by an Irish province? Obviously it's only been one season and there have been many others who have excelled for their adopted province - Jim Williams, John Langford, Howlett, Eddie Hekenui etc etc.

So i thought i'd put it out there - who has been the best SH signing by an irish province?

justsomebloke

ehh Contemponi

Enright

despite the fact that howlett, lafimi and tapoki are performing well for munster at present, Jim (seamus) Williams get my vote

He really bought into Munster rugby and was a fantastic servant

barnesd

pwhite587 wrote: »

After Rocky Elsom's perfromance against Quins and his form this season, it got me thinking - is he the best Southern Hemishpere signing made by an Irish province? Obviously it's only been one season and there have been many others who have excelled for their adopted province - Jim Williams, John Langford, Howlett, Eddie Hekenui etc etc.

So i thought i'd put it out there - who has been the best SH signing by an irish province?

If he hangs around another year then maybe. He's probably having one of the best seasons ever of an import but for overall impact fellas like Jim Williams would still be ahead.

toomevara

Jim Williams, easily, followed by Munster's Kiwi contingent, with the lamentable exception of Cullen.

gilmore

Trevor Halstead won us (munster) a heineken cup

Amazotheamazing

Depends, Holwell was a great signing for Leinster (if he'd stayed they would have won the HEC with him, I'm certain of it). Munster couldn't have won the HEC without Halstead, or Tipoki imo.

However, guys like Langford and Jim Williams improved the entire culture of Munster, made them far more professional when Munster were still pretty amateur (Williams especially). Rhys Ellison was a huge import for Shannon back in the 1990's. Jason Holland is back coaching Munster after a great playing career here.

zenmonk

Mafi

sounds-right

john langford is widely regarded in munster as having a huge impact on professionalism, forward play and training methods,

for big game performances there was none better than jim 'seamus' williams,

a big part of this question would also be the influence these players have on their younger irish counterparts, two examples being the improvement in cian healys game due to the the presence of le roux and van der linde, as well as doug howletts influence on ian dowling

EdgarAllenPoo

I'd say Shaun Payne on a consistency and longevity basis.

anonymous_joe

Contepomi and Holwell deserve mentions.

Holwell was a real star, shame he didn't stay too long, because he clearly had affection for Leinster.

Contepomi despite a few high profile poor games has been one of the best players in Celtic League history. Around 2005/06 he was playing magical rugby and getting that Leinster backline firing in a frightening away.

Can't avoid mentioning Ollie Le Roux either, great player for Leinster, while as a coach and player he's clearly had an effect on the quality of our younger props (note Cian Healy versus Marcus Horan).

Some good signings by Munster too, Halstead, Payne, etc.

Clareman

Munster have had some great signings from the southern hemisphere, all of whom have brought something different to the table.

Firstly, Langford, brought professionism, trained the pack, got a functioning line out.
Williams - pack leader.
Payne - consistancy.
Mafi - flair.
Topoki - toughness.
Halsted - Toughness again (oops).
Mullins - flair and toughness.
Cullen - sick note that brought Payne into the frame

Clareman

Oh yeah, and Dougie Howlett, a proven finisher.

Might aswell through in some others.

Manning - cover.
Warwick - an alternative kicker/number 10
Melbourne (has he played???)

myflipflops

Clareman wrote: »

Might aswell through in some others.

Warwick - an alternative kicker/number 10

Connacht get the credit for signing Warwick and his value to Munster is a HELL of a lot more than as an alternate to O'Gara.

bleg

tony magahan

Amazotheamazing

Clareman wrote: »

Melbourne (has he played???)

Melbourne is from Clonmel, I presume you mean Nick Williams?

RuggieBear

langford for munster for me...like others have mentioned brought with him a very professional attitude. or maybe jason holland...an amazingly clever rugby player.
holwell or spooner for leinster...holwell was a real game manager and nearly always took the right option. Spooner was similar and ran the show well till he injury denuded him

Diom

For Connacht:
Ta'auso
Warwick
Farley
Wilkinson
Ofisa

All fantastic players for Connacht. Farley has probably had the biggest impact, but Ofisa and Wilks could push him for that in a couple of years.

Amazotheamazing

Diom wrote: »

For Connacht:
Ta'auso
Warwick
Farley
Wilkinson
Ofisa

All fantastic players for Connacht. Farley has probably had the biggest impact, but Ofisa and Wilks could push him for that in a couple of years.

With Tim Ryan leaving Munster, will Wilkinson be drafted south?

Robbo

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

With Tim Ryan leaving Munster, will Wilkinson be drafted south?

He recently signed a new 2 year extension for all the meaning contracts have down Limerick way.

Amazotheamazing

Robbo wrote: »

He recently signed a new 2 year extension for all the meaning contracts have down Limerick way.

We gave you Murphy, Cronin and Matthews, surely Connacht can spare us yet another player?

Aidric

Jim Williams for his consistently good and lengthy service to Munster. Saying that Howlett has been absolutely immense since signing. Elsom has been similarly awesome for Leinster but not here long enough to be considered the greatest ever signing.

Robbo

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

We gave you Murphy, Cronin and Matthews, surely Connacht can spare us yet another player?

Away and start working on a robotic exoskeleton for John Hayes to get a few more years out of him.

Diabhal Beag

I'd say Paul Warwick but I am a Connacht supporter

soundsham

Enright wrote: »

despite the fact that howlett, lafimi and tapoki are performing well for munster at present, Jim (seamus) Williams get my vote

He really bought into Munster rugby and was a fantastic servant

+1 a true warrior

also contepomi has been quite a good player too for leinster munster:p

phog

For me it has to be John Langford, he certainly brought professionalism to Munster a close 2nd would be Jim Williams, his cooments after our defeat to Wasps in the S/F in Lansdowne road set the seeds for our win in 2006.

As regards to foreign players in other provinces I admired Holwell the most. Not trying to rub it in here but Contepomi never really impressed me, he has had great days but he also had some very poor days.

Clareman

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Melbourne is from Clonmel, I presume you mean Nick Williams?

Ah those Tipp fella are all foreigners to me anyway

Thanks for pointing out my glaring mistake *hangs head in shame smiliey*