The case for relaxing Aussie Rugby's eligibility laws
Last week I wrote about short and tactical kicking and how the better international teams are using it in the wider channels to overcome rush defence.
After a couple of rounds of Super Rugby we’ve seen the South Africans use it to great effect, while the Aussies have been getting it a little twisted and aren’t identifying the right moments or are unable to execute properly. In particular, the Reds over the weekend spent far too much time putting average kicks down Ben Smith’s throat, which ultimately cost them the game.
This brings to mind the question of which Australian rugby players are more comfortable dropping it onto the toe and are ideally suited to the current international arena. Players like Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale (when he plays fullback) and Christian Lealiifano all spring to mind, but if you’re like me there are three names that you associate with short/tactical kicking, particularly out wide, and those are Nic White, Luke Morahan, and James O’Connor.
There is just one slight problem. They are all ineligible for selection for the Wallabies under the current laws.
Now, Australian rugby has had nowhere near the same player exodus as the Kiwis or Saffas, but it is still one of the larger issues Rugby Australia is dealing with. What compounds the issue even more, is that our national team kinda sucks at the moment, which doesn’t help the chances of retaining talent. It’s easier for the All Blacks to take a hardline stance on this, as they’ve won the last two World Cups and are the most iconic brand in sport. I’m pretty sure they could get a bank loan using the Bledisloe as collateral with how long they’ve had it.
Yet despite everything in their favour, the All Blacks are losing increasingly more players to cashed-up overseas clubs. It does make you wonder, what chance do we really have? Richie McCaw had a crack recently when responding to a question on how to stop the player drain. His take was that you build a good culture that players don’t want to walk away from.
My interpretation: you can’t stop it.
I don’t blame players for doing the dash overseas. Professional athletes have a limited shelf-life, and while it might appear otherwise, not everyone can be a Fox Sports commentator after retiring.
The Saffas have adapted to reality better than anyone, and as of this week have opted against the continual ring-fencing of their overseas cattle by abolishing the 30 cap eligibility rule introduced at the start of the 2017 season. This is despite the rule leading to recent successes by facilitating the return of Faf de Klerk and Duane Vermeulen. The impact of Faf, in particular, was clear in the historic Boks victory over the AB’s in Wellington.
SA Rugby will now try to keep talent at home by offering salary top-ups to around 75 players of national interest. Will this stop the rot? Not likely, but what is of real interest is they have signaled that they will be strictly enforcing their rights in respect of player availability during applicable Test windows. One commentator made the salient point that this will make signing South African players less attractive if they are regularly unavailable for their clubs.
This and everything else you’ve read so far are strong enough reasons in my books for Australia to adopt the same philosophy. Early rounds of Super Rugby have shown a number of local players putting their best foot forward, and if you combine them with the best of our players abroad, you have a pretty mean squad. Imagine being able to bring on Michael Hooper and Will Skelton with 25 minutes to go in a World Cup semi? We could be the fast finishers for once.
But what about Super Rugby you cry! Won’t relaxing the laws mean that the player exodus will get worse, and the Australian teams will be rubbish? Well, you’ve probably noticed that Super Rugby hasn’t been all that great lately anyway. Crowd and television numbers are weak compared to other winter codes, which doesn’t really come as much of a surprise given how little promotion the competition receives. Rugby Australia have dumped all their eggs in the Wallaby basket in terms of exposure of the game, so why not do everything we can to make sure the Wallaby brand is a successful one?
Raelene Castle has said that the Giteau law is keeping our best players in Australia. I doubt that is the case, and I won’t be surprised if Adam Coleman is not the last overseas departure announced in the next six months.
This honestly doesn’t worry me, because from what I’m seeing, the players that go overseas are better for it. It isn’t just Will Skelton’s weight loss that has been impressive, he is fundamentally a better rugby player. Nic White has said he is in the best form of his career, and after watching a number of Exeter Chiefs games recently, I agree with him. Lachie McCaffrey and Scott Fardy are two great examples of players whose growth didn’t occur in Australia, but abroad. The list goes on.
Castle has stated that South Africa making the change will not prompt any reconsideration of the Wallaby eligibility laws. I understand why, and that it is partly fear of the unknown that drives this, but I see it differently. I see changing the eligibility laws as not just a way to make the Wallabies more successful, but an opportunity to grow the player pool. I see it as an opportunity to bring the intellectual property of successful international clubs into Australian Rugby. After the last three or so years of disappointment, I think we can all agree that it’s time for some fresh ideas.
Tom Banks Brumbies press conference:
Comments on RugbyPass
There’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to comments