Munster's pursuit of Springbok stars begs questions of IRFU stance on Aki
We now live in very interesting times regarding how the IRFU goes about its contracting business. For so long it was generally sweetness and light under David Nucifora’s baton.
Ireland had accelerated ahead to such an extent that the high-performance boss had no qualms last November rubber-stamping handing the national team’s reins over for the 2020 Six Nations to an assistant coach who has never before run the whole shooting match anywhere.
It sounded all so rosy: World Cup history, a fond sayonara to Joe Schmidt and then onwards and upwards with Andy Farrell at the helm. Now, though, that outlook isn’t so comforting.
Ireland bombed at the finals, Schmidt carried on throughout 2019 like a coach who had lost his iron grip the second he announced in November 2018 he would be moving on, while the porous defence that recently left in a combined 15 tries in 160 minutes against England and New Zealand has placed grave question marks over Farrell’s credentials.
Does he really have the bottle to take Ireland on and have them do better than they did under Schmidt? Only time will tell on that score, but it is interesting how sceptics are already predicting he won’t see his contract through to its World Cup 2023 expiry.
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Farrell failing would be a massive black mark regarding the Nucifora way and all the succession planning he has been cooking up since 2014.
Curiously, the Australian was another to be awarded a cushy pre-World Cup contract extension… what is it about the IRFU habitually agreeing to meaty staff contracts before a world finals only to then be left with egg on the face when results fall short of expectation?
Ultimately, Ireland’s four-year World Cup ‘improvement’ under Nucifora’s planning was the All Blacks taking seven minutes longer than Argentina to go 17 early points up in a quarter-final. Ouch!
Ireland promised after 2015 they would not be caught winging it at the 2019 RWC with an inexperienced out-half starting at No10 in a big match in place of Johnny Sexton, but they have not delivered on that aim https://t.co/Y2QThUAiJW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 27, 2019
As regards player contracts, something which Nucifora’s fingerprints are all over, the months ahead will be intriguing for an organisation that raked in record revenues of €84.2million in the last financial year but spent €45.6m on the professional game and was only left with a slender surplus of €3.2m.
Nucifora’s brief has forever been about driving hard bargains and securing best value for money for an IRFU who are always most interested in their bottom line.
This season heralds somewhat of a lull in negotiations surrounding top-end deals concerning Ireland’s elite centrally contracted contingent. Only Devin Toner, who was axed by Schmidt for the World Cup, and Rob Kearney, who was unsettlingly made to wait until last May to sign his current one-year extension, fall out of contract next summer.
"Whether he is the official captain or not, he is going to be one of three people hugely important in the dressing room."https://t.co/JCJUqiK8F5
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 7, 2019
But it is what will happen in the next layer of contracting that will most catch the eye. Take, for instance, the respective situations brewing at Connacht and Munster.
Having starting in 23 of his adopted country’s last 29 matches and become a staple of Schmidt’s Test sides since becoming eligible under residency in November 2017, New Zealander Bundee Aki’s status has immeasurably grown since he last put pen to paper on a Connacht extension in October 2016 that is taking him through to summer 2020.
He is returning to the contracting table emboldened by his much-enhanced CV and feeling very much entitled to a new IRFU funded central contract that comes with all the trimmings attached for top-end players.
The curiosity, though, is what may happen if he overplays his hand. If he snaps up a more lucrative deal in the UK or on the continent, under current regulations it will spell the end for his Test career as Ireland haven’t selected an overseas-based player in a XV in the 58 Test matches played since Johnny Sexton was still tied to Racing when Scotland were beaten in March 2015.
Contrast this potential sacrificing of Aki’s burgeoning Test career with the power play ongoing at Munster. Damian de Allende, another Test-playing No12, is being courted by Johann van Graan, along with fellow Springbok RG Snyman.
Nothing has yet been signed, van Grann admitting midweek: “I don’t want to speculate further until there is confirmation of it. We have spoken to both players and we have got big dreams for the squad.”
This is a huge coup for Munster.https://t.co/VM2y1sLkJ4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 4, 2019
How odd will it look if Aki is deemed surplus to Ireland requirements due to basing himself abroad, yet de Allende and Snyman could be signed by a province on deals that would allow them to continue to represent South Africa? Very odd is the answer.
Having won the World Cup with a matchday 23 containing five players who played last season in the English Premiership and another two who were heavily involved in the French Top 14, Rassie Erasmus – van Graan’s predecessor at Munster – has starkly illustrated that you can succeed at Test level with a squad mixture of overseas and home-based players.
Success in Japan and in the Rugby Championship had laid bare the myth that the best way to succeed at international level is to only select domestically based players.
Could South Africa's #RWC success lead to the end of protectionism in other countries?
– @heagneyl looks at the argument for an open-door policy ?? https://t.co/o5nb0byhfI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 3, 2019
With Erasmus shattering the mould and embracing the streetwise smarts that his non-South Africa based contingent have to offer, maybe it is time for the ultra-protectionist IRFU to remove the blinkers and allow incoming boss Farrell to consider selecting overseas-based players for the Ireland Test squad.
What the lifting of restriction would immediately do is put an end to the unruly annual charade that is Irish Test players like Aki often being made to plead Oliver Twist-like at Nucifora’s table because the IRFU stubbornly won’t ever match like for like the salaries available elsewhere.
As for Munster and their South African flirtation, it’s nothing new. Ever since the unheralded Trevor Halstead played a crucial role in helping the province to its breakthrough European success in 2006, there has always been a fascination with the Africans.
In the hour of his greatest triumph, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus remembered his late Munster colleague Anthony Foley https://t.co/TMUvPcg7zK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 5, 2019
Jean de Villiers, Gerhard van den Heever, Jaco Taute and Gerbrandt Grobler are just some of the names of varying degrees of success who have been and gone in Limerick since the halcyon Halstead era.
Of the eight southern hemisphere-born players on their current roster of 45, four are South African, three are Kiwi and one is Australian, but that isn’t to suggest they are overstocked with foreigners. Far from it.
They instead have ample wriggle room to manoeuvre under IRFU policy and plenty of scope to facilitate the potential arrivals of Allende and Snyman.
Johann van Graan could have stayed working with the Springboks but he took a leap of faith with Munster in late 2017, a decision he has no regrets over despite South Africa going on to win the World Cup https://t.co/Q5TVYCnxpR
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 7, 2019
Two of the current eight, Aussie Jed Holloway and All Black Alby Mathewson are only on short-term deals, two of the South Africans – CJ Stander and Jean Kleyn – are Irish capped under residency, and two of the Kiwis – Tyler Bleyendaal and Rhys Marshall – are Irish eligible under residency.
That effectively means there are just two full-time non-Irish qualified slots taken, those filled by the Boks-capped Arno Botha and fellow countryman Chris Cloete, who is a year away from becoming Irish-eligible.
No wonder van Graan is flirting with two recent World Cup winners and doing whatever it takes to add that missing something which might transform Munster from serial European semi-final losers into an outfit that gets back to the big time of reaching finals and lifting trophies.
Interesting times, indeed.
WATCH: The latest episode of Don’t Mess With Jim sees Jim Hamilton discuss South Africa’s World Cup win and Saracens’ salary cap breaches
Comments on RugbyPass
Quite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
10 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
1 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
10 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
10 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
10 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
10 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
10 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
10 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
10 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
10 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to comments