I agree with Stormer - the overall quality and depth of the CC and SR sides would probably increase somewhat, but I don't think Heyneke Meyer's team would change at all were those players still in SA.
I don't think that SA rugby in general would be in an appreciably stronger position where those players to have stayed.
thanks for that and if we were talking about the past then NZ had Andrew Mehrtens tooThere is even an argument to be made that we might have been worse off;
Lets say Grant is not in Japan and Morne Steyn not in France. In that case Handre Pollard might have had to wait around a few more years before getting a call up. This is just one instance but many of our younger Bokke would've found making the test side more difficult without either those above them moving off or us having more than the 5 teams.
Just to add some other players for I'mScotty;
Daniel Coetzee
Antonie Claassen (both for France)
Justin Melck (Germany)
Hendre Fourie (England) though he isn't playing any more but you have a few 'oldies' there so I thought I'd mention these
Dan Vickerman
Clyde Rathbone (both Aussie)
Is New Zealand missing out on players with huge potential?!
Quade Cooper
Digby Ioane
Sean Maitland
Dylan Hartley
Thomas Waldrom
Jared Payne
Shontayne Hape
Alex Tulou
Nathan White
Bundee Aki
Ken Pisi
Khan Fotuali'i
Jack Lam
Anthony Perenise
Leroy Houston
Kane Thompson
Daniel Leo
James Johnston
Census Johnston
Gareth Anscombe
Ben Botica
Alofa Alofa
Ahsee Tuala
Siale Piatau
Michael Bent
etc, etc, etc. You just can't keep em all.
I believe CJ Stander played underage for South Africa so he can't play for Ireland? Not 100% sure on this so please correct me if I'm wrong.
Is New Zealand missing out on players with huge potential?!
Quade Cooper
Digby Ioane
Sean Maitland
Dylan Hartley
Thomas Waldrom
Jared Payne
Shontayne Hape
Alex Tulou
Nathan White
Bundee Aki
Ken Pisi
Khan Fotuali'i
Jack Lam
Anthony Perenise
Leroy Houston
Kane Thompson
Daniel Leo
James Johnston
Census Johnston
Gareth Anscombe
Ben Botica
Alofa Alofa
Ahsee Tuala
Siale Piatau
Michael Bent
etc, etc, etc. You just can't keep em all.
Is Australia missing out on players with huge potential?!
Greg Inglis
Billy Slater
Jarryd Hayne
Matt Scott
Corey Parker
Cameron Smith
Johnathan Thurston
Sam Thaiday
Daly Cherry-Evans
Paul Gallen
Etc, etc, etc.
Is USA missing out on players with huge potential?!
Adrian Peterson
Marshawn Lynch
Calvin Jonhson
Demaryius Thomas
Eddie Lacy
Jamaal Charles
JJ Watt
Vernon Davis
Jimmy Graham
LeSean McCoy
Demarco Murray
Etc, etc, etc.
The reason why those guys moved to aus are because of financial resons, they arent lost from new zealand because new zealand never devolped them in the first placeIs New Zealand missing out on players with huge potential?!
Quade Cooper - moved to aus when he was 13 and learnt his rugby at school.
Digby Ioane - moved to aus at 2 lol
Sean Maitland
Dylan Hartley
Thomas Waldrom
Jared Payne
Shontayne Hape
Alex Tulou
Nathan White
Bundee Aki
Ken Pisi
Khan Fotuali'i
Jack Lam
Anthony Perenise
Leroy Houston - moved to aus at 14 played U20
Kane Thompson
Daniel Leo
James Johnston
Census Johnston
Gareth Anscombe
Ben Botica
Alofa Alofa - moved to aus at 4 lol
Ahsee Tuala
Siale Piatau
Michael Bent
etc, etc, etc. You just can't keep em all.
The reason why those guys moved to aus are because of financial resons, they arent lost from new zealand because new zealand never devolped them in the first place
Maybe he's just talking about the guys who he highlighted as early movers...?