What if Genia were a Bok and Le Roux an All Black

Every so often, a player comes through the rugby ranks who seems better suited to the style of a nation they cannot call their own.

Such players are a rarity, as it is difficult to escape national styles at the highest level, but they are out there, and leave us wishing they had a different passport.

Here are some of the best playing another nation’s brand of rugby.

Will Genia: South Africa
The little general is dangerous at the best of times but imagine the impact Genia could have behind a giant Sprinboks forward pack. Even more so, imagine the carnage Genia could mastermind with hard-running loose forwards on either side of him.

Genia plays a game similar to the great Fourie du Preez – with both possessing great vision and ability to create something from nothing.

While Genia is limited with the Wallabies, he would run amok with the Boks.

Willie le Roux: New Zealand
Le Roux on his day is sublime, in a similar mould to Cory Jane when the Hurricanes’ fullback-cum-winger is in form.

Given his natural decision-making ability and nuance for broken play, Willie seems perfect to slot into an All Black backline. The over-structured and inhibiting backline play of the Springboks isn’t suited to a player of his attacking calibre.

Jamie Heaslip: Wallabies
The hulking Irish goliath is a genuine international-quality player with the sort of skills not typically seen in Northern Hemisphere forwards.

Heaslip could be the player Australia wanted Rocky Elsom to be a few years ago.

Brian O’Driscoll: Wallabies
Undoubtedly, BOD has had a remarkable career and possesses a highlight reel to die for.

God he would have been good outside Matt Giteau though… If only, if only.

Jamie Roberts: South Africa
South African-born Roberts would make for a phenomenal midfield partnership with captain Jean de Villiers. JJ Engelbrecht comes in a similar mould to Roberts but cannot match the Welsh inside centre for size and skill.

Roberts is a perfect fit for the South African backline, and what a backline it would be with him in it.

Morne Steyn: England
To be fair, Morne has been fairly suited to the forward-oriented play of the Springboks circa-2008, but the epic final Rugby Championship game demonstrated that the Springboks are moving away from that brutal style.

England have not though, could Morne become the new Jonny Wilkinson? Probably not because he’s not a citizen.

Brodie Retallick: England
Not only does he have the look of an English forward, he has the style too. Retallick has had a great start to his All Black career but Martin Johnson could teach him a thing or two and develop Brodie into a truly Test-standard lock.

 Interesting stuff Hakwa. I enjoyed that. But you missed Carter as A Bok. Under the Boks he could have given full reign to his natural attacking skills....hahaha.
But how about Habana as an AB.....JP as a Pom....Strauss as an Oz...Basteraud as an AB....Moneypenny as a Bok?

 South African backlines are typically not structured enough. Certainly NZ is considerably more structured. Le Roux would be a more dangerous winger for NZ. Disagree on Genia, the assesment of the rugby championship Ellis Park blowout  and style and Morne. Agree on BOD and Roberts. Roberts in particular but Jean at 13 has never worked for South Africa perhaps the more elusive de Jongh.

willie le roux would never be an All Black, his skill set are a dime a dozen in NZ, it only looks special cos hes surrounded by a rugby culture who has zero clues when it comes to playign the expansive backline play which in NZ is in our DNA.

le roux defence is one reason why he wouldnt even make the All Blacks B team, i cannot think of a worst defender in international rugby at the moment.
the other problem is le rouxs high error rate, most of willies games are a case of do something awesome, do something horrible. and then theres those games where le roux can find his efforts in the negative, one awesome thing, two horrible things.
both are reasons why nhe would never stand a chance.

his attack is class, but its at the same level as andre taylor, and taylor dosent have the same defensive liabilities and neither t=does he make as many errors.
his attack is good enough to get the All Black selectors to take a look at him, but it would be overshadowed by other better attackers that fill up NZ rugby.

le rouxs playmaking abilities though is his best ability though, and that is what i would call All Black level.
but the rest of his game especially the main points i mentioned are to big a problem for his play making abilities to excuse.

 Cloudy please keep your mind focussed on the rugby. However on looks and playing ability wee wee mcaaaw couldnt make a club side here. HahahahahahahahasaSUE  nz would love to have Willie as their star player. His defence is fine as are all aspects of his play. Please wise up.  Thanks

 Ha ha Ol Sasue opening that stupid mouth again..Hates everything about Bok rugby. Now he hates Willie too..Did he doe something to you Sas?? You wrote a whole piece dedicated to him trying to justify to yourself how he wouldn't make the AB team..
Yerah, you right. His defence is up to shit..Should we rather select Beauden Barrett and Israel "I havent been good for months" Dagg?? I am sure those are to brilliant defenders..
If Willie was an AB, and your boys are so superior in your thinking on attack, then I am sure Willie would be even better as the guys around him would compliment him. Hakwa was talking about putting him in the current AB team..How can you judge him on his performances when it is , as you make out, the other Boks making him look shit as they have no clue on attack..
You should rid yourself of the hatred for the mighty green and gold Sas..You sound like Mike on Frans Steyn..

 What a shocker by linesman is he completely blind. Favours the Stormwrs for once!Must be a kiwi!!!Bwahahaha ha

Willie has more clout attacking than Dagg, I would go that far for certain. Willie is smarter, but not the better fullback. If Le Roux was an All Black he would be put to good use, they can create the space to put him away and cause all kinds of problems. That is the big issue in South Africa, not creating space. In terms of skills South African players lack nothing, in fact over the past nine years skills have increased sharply. But our coaches do not put this to good use. The Cheetahs had the right approach though in the previous few years.

@sione laukais imaginary uncles BFF,

i dont hate Bok rugby, but i do hate those pitiful pathetic excuses from saffa rugby fans who blame the ref for their teams being shit, there have only been three saffa fans ive encountered here in SA who dont play the ref card.
its funny how my opinion of le roux being all shit can piss u off into a tirade of lies about me hatiing the Boks, but we all know why and if anyone dosnet, they can just ask sione lauakis uncle, lolz, :oD

@sun tzu,

"Willie has more clout attacking than Dagg, I would go that far for certain. Willie is smarter, but not the better fullback.Sharks"disagree, u need only look at the list of attacking achievements at crucial moments to know that dagg has been far more influential in his All Black career then le roux has in 2013.
keep in mind that the list of Bok opponents in 2013 is hardly a fixture of notable opponents,,,
samoa x 1scotland x 2italy x 1pumas x 2NZ, x 2OZ x 2wales x 1france x 150% of their fixture was against what is commonly regarded in most circles as easy beat teams.
then when u look at telling moments since dagg started playing, he has way more attacking achievements, and in a career not dogged by easy beats.
daggs influence has gotten not the All Blacks, highlanders and crusaders out of more jams then le roux has, but dagg has the bonmus of not being responsible for putting his teams behind the 8 ball, the way willie has so many times.
in saying all that, im of the opinon that dagg should be demoted to the All Blacks bench, and ben smith or piutau should be the All Blacks No1 now, but thats a story for another thread.
"If Le Roux was an All Black he would be put to good use, they can create the space to put him away and cause all kinds of problems."again it would never happen, the reasons stated above in my first reply is why.
but if he did play for the All Blacks, IMHO it would only be against teams like itlay, scotland or samoa. no way would his deficiencies be risked against the Boks, wallabies, france or england.
"That is the big issue in South Africa, not creating space. In terms of skills South African players lack nothing, in fact over the past nine years skills have increased sharply. But our coaches do not put this to good use. The Cheetahs had the right approach though in the previous few years."i actually agree with this comment, i have repeatedly said that in the past that the stormers have one of the best backlines in the comp, but they have a lack of direction, and its even more noticeable when those players step up into the Boks.the only player who has succeeded despite this saffa rugby culture is habana. 
i agree and the cheetahs were onto a good thing in 2013, but they were also aided by a very favourable fixture which made them look alot better then they really were.not the cheetahs fault though, they can only play with whats in front of them.
coaches are a real problem in SA, NZ have theri own problems, but at least we have top level candidates from the steve hansen to rennie who will ensure the next decade of NZ rugby is in good hands.SA dont have this, white is a decent coach, but he wont take the Bpks to the level needed to start competing with the All Blacks consistently.i rate meyer higher then white, and hes not in the same league as hansen and future All Black coach dave rennie.

 would the ABs still win if Morne was the ABs Number 10?

 Sasue, you wrote a whole piece on Willie and just how average you think he is..Why did you not dedicate some of that bullshit to other players listed by Hakwa.
You do take any and every opportunity to have a crack at the Boks..Not sure why though..You should be concerning yourself with the form of your champion team the Crusaders.
Dagg is not half the player Willie is. Dagg bust onto the scene and has gone backwards ever since. He is surely not 1st choice over Smith and Piutau now.
If you think the SA teams are so shit, dont be so concerned about them.

 Would the All Black's still win? Yes, of course. In fact, I thin they would be better than they currently are.

 diddnt dagg teroize sa last year, or was i dreaming that haha. 

Explain your theory Sun-Tzu - if you are right does that mean Morne is playing behind the wrong Team instead of the right Team playing the wrong Number 10?? Raises all sorts of interesting questions doesn't it?

 Morne can only play behind a dominant pack, and usually only on the highveld