All Blacks selected from Australia is a matter of when, not if

They would only be able to select a player from Australia for one year unless the Aus franchise accepted converting said player as a marquee player the following year. In the second year after Test debut they would no longer meet Aus eligibility criteria so would have to be marquee or return to a NZ franchise. I would suggest they should be more concerned about the PI asset flow drying up rather than the handful that come to Australia as kids.

I think what you just said DeanP ... is that Australia steals a lot of stuff - historically in the culture isn't it !!!! bout time you matured a bit... and you still need a slap for being disrespectful to the greatest most successful team in WORLD SPORT !

Well done Wal; nearly 300 contributions to date must nearly be a record. for a 'newbie'.

Ah, this is why Rupeni wanted to be an AB. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10684233 300 grand a year as opposed to 75. And there I was thinking that it was the boyhood dream of all kids growing up in Fiji to wear the AB jersey. Lol !! But it has to be said, given the NZRU's shameful treatment of Island rugby (remember that 2008 test against a cobbled together Samoa team when the ABs put on a century of points?). A shameful disrespect shown to Island rugby. Yet, given this shameful history, it really does beggar belief to see AB fanboi after fanboi in here having a little sook because Oz might be pinching a couple of 2nd tier players off the self proclaimed greatest team in the history of sport. My flabber has been well and truly gasted. I mean, really, it must take a certain level of psychopathy for an AB fanboi to keep a straight face while having his little whinge of extreme hypocrisy. Just what is it about Kiwis and their relentless complaining about Oz stealing from them?. Is it some kind of collective national narcissism? Pavlova, phar lap, crowded house, rusty crowe, lorde, they're always going about something. There must be a psychological explanation for this behaviour. Anyone here who did psychology 101 -feel free to offer up any theories !!

Buk, my comment was more about the generalisations thrown around rather than Mehrten's specifics. As such he still qualifies as a South African born All Black but I did know, and appreciate in reality, your point. There are a few on this forum talking about the (and I paraphrase) "intentional and cynical poaching of foreign players to play for the Wallabies being an Australian made conspiracy against New Zealand and the rest of the rugby community". Reality shows that New Zealand has allowed two foreign players per Super team since the 2011 (with no comment regarding marquee v development) and in fact DOES NOT CONSIDER PI PLAYERS AS FOREIGNERS. There is obviously some hypocrisy when throwing stones solely in one direction. Have an objective conversation with all the facts rather than narrow minded digs at "Australians" I say. Perhaps these people should put their money where their mouth is and write a researched article with facts rather than unsubstantiated sweepingly generalised statements. That's all :)

Rugby Fan - interesting that it only applies if they only play against another team that is nominated as that countries B team, I was not aware of that. Certainly makes it complicated.

El Gamba Just in regard to your Andrew Merhtens comment, I presume you are aware Merhtens father was a Cantab rep born in NZ and only went to SA for a working holiday for a few years, then returned to NZ. So Andrew happened to be born on that working holiday, but had no SA heritage ?

still-at-it are u asking me or posters in general?

Note that you ignore the parts where the player said HE wanted to switch allegiance and it sure wouldn't have been for the vast sums of money NZ doesn't have.

how are you a guru? and did you even read the article? and you have been told that there is NO policy in NZ that says only Ab eligible players can play in our super rugby teams.

Dean, the Highlanders also have a Japanese international in their squad. Hardly available for the AB's if he plays for the Cherry Blossoms now, is he?

Best poach ever? That fine young King Country product Martin Johnson, poached by the filthy Poms after playing NZ Colts. Outrageous.

bit of irony in your whole sentence there deanp!!

Only if he changes his name to Kororareka (?) Crowe. Russel is his Australian name.

so justin3, allegiance to a nation is built on being not good enough elsewhere? strange that you lot are promoting this idea........

so only players, zero gain? if they come over for anything other than rugby, well, they are second class citizens.

"The reason for that is that you can make substantially more money playing NH club rugby than playing Super Rugby in NZ. For a guy like Alapati Leiua or Jack Lam (both Samoan test players currently signed with NZ franchises but heading overseas at the end of the current tournament) it makes financial sense to leave NZ. " That's true. What I was saying is an 18 year old NZ player goes from school into the development system. That's club, ITM cup and Super 15 sides and age group sides. At some point they have to choose allegiance. The NZ system is largely about supporting the AB's. If you choose to represent Samoa, Tonga, Fiji or Australia it pays to move. There is more money overseas. Also the NZ system is focused on developing local talent for the AB's, they aren't clubs per see. The difference between the NZ and Australian system is that the NZRFU isn't looking outside NZ for players of heritage, or players who can be bought over and qualify. Yes there are players here on school scholarships who stay in NZ. his is try in Australia and many parts of the rugby world. I'd rather they weren't eligible. There is another layer on top of this in Australia where players are now targeted post school. part of it probably just reflects the rapid expansion of Australian professional rugby on a more limited base.

If you think our culture is hollow or non-existent your are a sad and pretty stupid individual. Yes, we are a nation of immigrants, so is the USA, New Zealand, Canada, etc, etc. but our culture and identity is strong as are the cultures and identities of these other examples. In Australia we do not shove our cultural identity down the throats of our children as other cultures do. We leave it for them to work out themselves. My children represent that culture when they are open and accepting of any new arrival at their school, no matter what colour, race or religion. That is modern Australian culture for you and it reflects our attitude to accepting overseas born or raised players as our own. It's a wonderful thing.

My guess is that if NZ were able to select from Aus or visa versa, there'd be an increase in the 'warehousing' of players who qualify to play for both. Not only to put them on the books before they're ready or as a 'just in case', but to block the other country having access to them. Yes of course it's happened in the past. Just think there'd be more of it.

Someone needs a slap ....