Brian O'Driscoll says foreign imports an opportunity Ireland must exploit

As Ireland chase down a Grand Slam, Brian O'Driscoll says imports are now a vital part of every nation's aspirations.

Speaking at the Laureus Sports Awards in Monaco, the Irish rugby legend said he has adjusted his position on the controversial ruling that accommodates foreign-born players - at international level - under a three-year residency rule.

The ruling has allowed players like Bundee Aki and CJ Stander to prosper in the green jersey and O'Driscoll says it's something nations like Ireland simply have to embrace.

"I had a real problem with it," he said. "I think if you wait a couple more years for it to be pushed out to five years, first and foremost, I was in disagreement with that and World Rugby have gone in some way to put that right.

"But in the same breath, these players that play now for Ireland have been fully embraced. Yes, they mightn't see themselves as being Irish but they are playing for the jersey.

"International rugby is becoming a bit like a role anywhere, a job. And that's what professionalism has shaped.

"Even the Kiwis are encouraging players to come over from the islands and play for the All Black jersey, so it happens a bit more under the radar there than it has with the likes of Bundee Aki or CJ Stander or Richardt Strauss.

"Our playing numbers will always have difficulty in competing with the bigger nations. When we get the opportunity to get top quality players, the IRFU is going to take that opportunity to pilfer whatever players they possibly can.

"Irish grandmothers, residency rules, whatever, it's an opportunity to strengthen our squad and to hopefully push towards bigger honours."

Aided by the performances of Aki and Stander, Ireland continue their pursuit of the Six Nations Grand Slam when they host Scotland in Dublin. But O'Driscoll identified Finn Russell's off-the-cuff creativity as a major threat to Ireland's prospects.

The match-winning performance of the Scottish fly-half against England was singled out by O'Driscoll following Russell's last-round performance.

"Finn Russell was willing to throw those passes [against England]," he said. "That one to Huw Jones over the top of Joseph on the pocket between him and Jonny May was an exceptional pass, but a ballsy one too.

"That gets plucked off and he's the villain.They are dangerous, for sure."

But despite this praise, the 2009 Grand Slam winner said Scotland's questionable form on the road is a bonus for Ireland.

"I think I'd be more worried if we were going to Murrayfield," he said. "It's become a very difficult place to go and play. You've seen the results they've had over the course of the last year, beating Australia there, pushing New Zealand very close, beating England, beating France.

"What Scotland have to prove is that they can go away from home and get the job done too.

"They haven't won an awful lot away from home in Six Nations and to get the respect we talk about with World Cups, you've got to go and earn that respect by winning in difficult places like Dublin. It's a big test for them."

O'Driscoll is hailed as the most gifted in a generation of Ireland rugby players who achieved much and he describes a real feeling of excitement in the country about Joe Schmidt's side.

"It's an exciting time to be an Irish supporter at the minute," he said. "We've had a lot of barren years. I grew up in the '90s when we won very little. Not just trophies but very few games.

"So to be as competitive as we are and beating some of the teams that we're beating more consistently is where you need to go in building towards a World Cup cycle.

"If they [Ireland] beat Scotland in Dublin, we get a day out in the sun at least. You've to still wait for permutations and combinations but it's not beyond plausibility that Ireland could win the championship in advance of even going to Twickenham."