Rugby: Irish skipper one to chase

Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll is rated highly by Conrad Smith. Photo / Getty Images

If New Zealand's Super 15 franchises are interested in a glamour purchase, Brian O'Driscoll might be the man to chase.

The speculation in Ireland is that O'Driscoll will retire from international football after the World Cup but look for an offshore club contract. He's always talked of playing in France but the lure of New Zealand could prove hard to resist.

The Irish captain has been rated the best centre in world rugby for much of his career. He has dominated in the Northern Hemisphere and led Ireland to their first Grand Slam in 51 years in 2008.

But for all his achievements, he has never pulled off the coveted win against the All Blacks, either with Ireland or the Lions. His greatest disappointment was the 2005 Lions tour, when his shoulder was dislocated in the first minute of the first test.

Not only did he never beat the All Blacks but he arguably never managed to play his best rugby against them - a source of some discontent. Whatever players say, they all want to win the respect of the All Blacks and the New Zealand public.

The chance to play Super 15, on hard grounds and with players who can use the ball and put him into space, would allow O'Driscoll a last chance to prove why he is considered the greatest player Ireland has ever produced.

Certainly Conrad Smith, the All Black centre, would love to see his long-time adversary make the trip south.

"There are a couple coming down with Melbourne but to get someone of his class would be great. I rate him highly. When they came to New Zealand, he and [Gordon] D'Arcy were the two who stood out. I think he is a class player and I have always enjoyed playing against him. He has stood the test of time."

As always, the barrier to bringing him to New Zealand will be money. While he'll be 33 by the World Cup, O'Driscoll will still be able to command a big contract in France.

The Irish captain would certainly be one of the higher profile players potentially interested in scrutinising Super 15 offers but he's unlikely to be the only one. Just as the World Cup will be a watershed in the careers of many All Blacks, so will it be for many Northern Hemisphere players.

Because of its timing, it would be impossible for any Northern Hemisphere player to be involved in both Super 15 and the Six Nations.

So the reality is that the players most likely to consider a move south are either going to be trying to prove they are capable of playing test rugby or at the end of their international careers.

Coming into the latter category is the likes of Welsh wing Shane Williams and possibly fullback Lee Byrne, Irish lock Paul O'Connell and possibly even Jonny Wilkinson.

The future of the English first five is uncertain, as it is possible Dan Carter could end up at Toulon. While that might be a long shot, it is almost certain Welsh utility back James Hook is going there with a view to playing first five.

The Blues tried to interest Wilkinson last year and given their continued struggles to find a quality first five, even a badly dinged and ageing Wilkinson could be of value to their squad.

How much interest there is for these players to travel south is unknown. Much could depend on how the Melbourne Rebels perform next year. They have recruited several Northern Hemisphere players and, if they do well, it's likely others would consider a shift south.

One player All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen would be keen to see come down is England flanker Lewis Moody.

"I've always thought he'd suit playing in the Southern Hemisphere," says Hansen. "He's a skilled player, mobile and a big man. He's pretty abrasive. He has a lot of quality to his game; a lot of tools in his tool box."

So far, New Zealand franchises have ignored the foreign market but that's not expected to last. Once the direct contracting systems beds in, teams are likely to chase off-shore recruits.