'The day you say that you can be an All Black from Timbuktu, then you're in trouble'
Stephen Donald has slammed Beauden Barrett’s staggering All Blacks eligibility exemption request, as the star pivot looks to potentially head overseas after next year’s World Cup.
According to a report by The New Zealand Herald’s Liam Napier, the New Zealand Rugby Union reportedly rejected Barrett’s request to base himself overseas while still being able to don the black jersey.
The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year has been a mainstay of the All Blacks’ matchday squads for quite some time now, and would be considered a massive loss to New Zealand rugby if he did leave.
But the decision to decline his request will seemingly force Barrett to choose between the coveted black jersey and an overseas payday.
Speaking on SENZ’s The Run Home, World Cup hero Stephen Donald said the New Zealand Rugby Union would be “in trouble” if they let players “be an All Black from Timbuktu.”
“I would have no problem if any of the All Blacks who has put a couple of years (in) goes and gets the Brodie or the Beaudy walk back into the All Blacks,” Donald said on SENZ’s The Run Home.
“But the day you say that you can be an All Black from Timbuktu, then you’re in trouble.
“Guys are going to bugger off.
“When they’re all under the house of the NZRU, you know that he’s played this (many) minutes, you know that this is his condition.
“Even the conditioning issue, that was Rens’ (Dave Rennie) issue when he was bringing guys back from overseas, he was always worried about having any sort of control over their conditioning because he knew… that the game is slower.
“There’s all sorts of reasons but undoubtedly the biggest reason is you cannot have guys overseas and being an All Black because… what’s left to keep the guys playing for our Super Rugby teams?
“Our Super Rugby teams battle to get crowds now, what’s it going to be like in five years’ time when your Beauden Barrett’s, McKenzie’s, Will Jordan’s are off playing in the European Championship as opposed to the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Chiefs?”
Australian rugby have famously relaxed their eligibility rules since before the 2015 World Cup, when they introduced the ‘Giteau Law.’
Under Rugby Australia’s current rules, the Wallabies are able to select a few overseas players for the national team.
Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi are among the overseas based players who have starred in Wallaby gold over the past few years, as the team looks to work towards former glory.
The Wallabies had a tough year this year, there’s no denying that – although they showed plenty of promise.
But if the All Blacks were to relax their eligibility rules, even if it was for just one player, then Donald suggested they would have to look at their Trans-Tasman neighbours for an insight into their future.
“Look where they’ve got to,” Donald added.
“Look where Aussie rugby is at right now. They are a basket case… you would never want to open that floodgate, not for anyone.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments