KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's "magnificent seven" players have been hailed as the key to Wales qualifying two of their regional teams for the Heineken Cup rugby quarter-finals.
The Ospreys and Cardiff Blues have both qualified for the last eight in Europe's elite club competition.
Halfback Justin Marshall and loose forwards Filo Tiatia and Marty Holah will travel with the Ospreys to face English club Saracens in early April while No 8 Xavier Rush, fullback Ben Blair, lock Paul Tito and halfback Jason Spice are in the Cardiff team to play Toulouse in France.
Ryan Jones, the new Wales and Ospreys captain, acknowledged the contribution of his clubmates.
"The experience our Kiwis have brought to us has been an inspiration," Jones said.
"That is why you sign players like that. They have been there and done it and have such a positive effect."
Cardiff captain Rush has recently signed a new three-year deal and he and his compatriots were singled out by coach David Young.
"They have been a massive benefit to us and to Welsh rugby," Young said.
"Our players have learned a lot from them, probably more than they get off us as coaches. These players have played in world-class tournaments alongside and against world-class players."
Former Taranaki and Hurricanes stalwart Tito played down his own contribution.
"I have just come here to do my job and do what I have been doing for the last eight years in New Zealand," he said.
"I think we do bring something.
"But that's why they brought us here and why they pay us the money they do. We are signed to do our job and if we don't, they should send us home."
- NZPA
