Izaia Perese’s future: Rugby Australia’s ‘challenge’ in retaining talent
Rugby World Cup finalist Justin Harrison has questioned how Rugby Australia can keep “players invested” in the sport Down Under following reports that Izaia Perese may be on the move.
As reported earlier this month, Perese may be set for a move up north with English clubs Leicester and Harlequins both looking to secure the Wallaby’s services from next season.
Stan Sport commentator Michael Atkinson raised the talking point on Rugby Heaven this week by mentioning that recent reports had suggested that Perese had put pen to paper with the Leicester Tigers.
Perese has been a clear standout from the Waratahs across the opening four rounds of Super Rugby Pacific and appears to be a strong candidate to start in the Wallabies’ midfield this year.
But as former Wallaby Justin Harrison discussed on Rugby Heaven, this is an example of the “challenge” that Rugby Australia seems to be constantly battling.
“It shows you the challenges that Australian rugby has got around keeping talent and nurturing talent,” Harrison said.
“Developing talent, starting to get some pay out of it and then you start to lose them. That’s a real validation of what we’re doing down here in producing talent in Super Rugby Pacific… how do we keep those players invested in Australian rugby? That’s the challenge.”
Australian-based CODE Sports also reported this week that world-class prop Taniela Tupou had received an offer from four-time European champions Leinster.
Tupou, who has only played four matches for his new club the Melbourne Rebels, would reportedly join the European heavyweights at the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Reds utility Jordan Petaia has also been linked with a move to the NRL with the St George Illawarra Dragons, and there’s been some debate around Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
But this all goes to show, just like the Perese situation at the Tahs, that this is all part of the professional game.
“I don’t think it should become a distraction for the Tahs, that’s the nature of rugby,” Wallaroo Sera Naiqama discussed. “There’s constant rotation and turnover.
“Perese, while he’s adding so much value to the Waratahs right now, I think that’s what we should focus on, he’s here until he’s not.”
The Waratahs will have Perese at their disposal this season at least, and the New South Welshman will call on their star centre to shine as they seek a resurgence of sorts.
Following back-to-back defeats to New Zealand opposition by a combined four points, the Tahs sit just outside the top eight in ninth place.
The Waratahs are the second-worst Australian side on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder – ahead of the Western Force – with just one win from four starts to date.
But as Super Rugby champion Justin Harrison explained, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.
“Change is dangerous. When you’re coming that close, you really have to start looking at making sure you’ve got faith in the structure you’re doing, what you’ve done in pre-season, all of that stands true.
“Not being far off is almost close enough to keep working away.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“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.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments