KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's post-World Cup defectors are already making their presence felt in the English Premiership and the game is all the better for it.
That's the view of 2003 World Cup winner and two-time British Lion, Will Greenwood, who wrote in The Daily Telegraph that the abundance of
overseas professionals in the league has turned it into one of the best competitions in the world.
While the All Black management team have aired their fears that the exodus of overseas talent to the Premiership is reducing opportunity for talented English players, Greenwood believes the exotic mix of nationalities has driven up skill levels and forced locals to raise their game.
"The overseas player stepping off the plane nowadays is a very different beast," wrote Greenwood. "Often in the prime of his physical and rugby-playing life, this guy has a point to prove and the chosen way of doing it is by putting a rocket up the pants of all the home-grown talent."
Greenwood noted that in last weekend's Premiership clashes Kiwis were the decisive figures in several matches, most notably Luke McAlister, who found himself up against Aaron Mauger who is now at Leicester.
"There is no doubt that McAlister is already very comfortable with Sale. Muscular and not afraid to go straight up the middle, McAlister has the undentable confidence of a 24-year-old. It does not matter how many weeks he has not played, nor that he knocked on the first ball that he touched. He still called for and kicked the tricky penalty that put Sale in front.
"During the first 15 minutes McAlister did not touch the ball, but his contribution was immense. He chased, tackled and organised with such calm determination that the team around him was galvanised. On the day he outplayed Mauger, who is taking longer to settle at Leicester.
"This does not surprise me as he is a different type of player. He needs to understand the players around him before he can relax and make such a telling impact. But I have no doubt he will because that is what the clubs are paying for and Mauger is nothing if not a professional.
"This is where the foreign players' real strength lies. The big gestures and the sparkling tries are the sweeteners, the big-game bonus that comes from top quality.
"What matters are the small, almost unseen things, the fine-tuning and the sense of purpose they bring. Clubs are buying into an ethos and an aura when they put down the big bucks. It is money well spent. The foreign players will observe and comment on what needs to be done."
