Douglas deserved Wallabies callup: Cheika

Even when selecting at age-grade for rugby camps or upcoming tournaments etc., the selection criteria are based upon not only who the best trailing players are, but also which players will be legitimately available to attend training sessions and matches. Naturally selectors always try to be as flexible as possible with the few outstanding players but where there are close calls between players the player who has made himself totally available will always trump the player with special availability issues for whatever reason (injury recovery, family circumstances / holidays, school exams etc. etc.) I don't think Douglas is being treated any differently. Perhaps he managed the situation poorly. Perhaps he could have arranged to join Leinster after the RC, making himself available for Wallabies selection. If he only made himself available till end of August, for example, then it's not surprising he was overlooked. Anyway hope he has a storming game in the final as his game has improved this year (unfortunately didn't have a good game in the semi). Although a REDS supporter, I'll be 100% behind the Tahs on Sat. Go TAHS!!

I do agree he's a bigger loss to the Tahs than to the Wallabies.

Cheers for the responses jeznez and Chivas - good food for thought from both of you.

Chivas - TH props are some of the highest paid players in the NH. Is why a guy like Hayman was so hard to hold on to and why our scrummaging TH's are increasingly going off shore - Palmer, Ma'afu, Longbottom and in his day Blake. Those that aren't top scrummagers don't get looked at but I expect Kepu with the improvements he has made to his game to be very tough for the ARU to hold on to in his next contract negotiation. LH's there is less demand and we have much greater depth.

I would have had him in the WB's ahead of Horwill this season - if he was still contracted - I support Link's managment of the squad based on what has happened.

I think it is hard Red Kev. They are typically not high profile players from a marketing perspective. Like I'm not sure how billboards of Kane Douglas or Will Skelton would go in underwear ads. Consequently they can't attract the marketing dollars like some others like say Folau who is a poster boy for the ARU. The point is backs and loose forwards typically attract more than those who's prowess is in wrestling and general brawling. Add to that all countries lose their fringe players. If you can't be a regular for the starting side, your on field profile is not going to improve. So you need to leave when you are at your most saleable. So lack of money from ARU, peak net worth, big dollars overseas and an opportunity to see the world and have some fun. It needs a pretty strong magnet to keep you on the field. Alas for coaches, where can a coach get true international experience if all the SR roles are filled. They have the same earning risks and rewards as the players. If you look at Australia, NZ and SA.... with regards to this their profiles are all very similar and are continuously bleeding players. What Australia can do is build a stronger nursery. Australia has failed miserably in this area. Australia has been a prime breeding ground for tall big guys. Look at Jones, Pyle, Carter, Horwill, Simmons, Wykes, Skelton, Douglas. That is a log jam. Props look in pretty reasonable order too. What I do think Australia has been looking for is a Mick Cron. I think the Tahs have done well by getting Gibson, but more of this is probably needed to fill some holes. Other areas Australia is very strong like lineout coaching, defence. Anyway just some random thoughts to a question not aimed at me :-).

You can add Kieran Longbottom to that group. I think the idea of sending them over young and trying to get them back later has merit. Although not a tightfive player we've just seen Tala Gray make his return - the concern will be them developing their tight skills but then falling behind on mobility, handling etc and taking further time to reach the required levels over here. It is this area that I hope the NRC has the greatest opportunity to address. The refereeing of the comp needs to insist that we ensure we are rewarding dark arts players, then it is up to coaches and systems to ensure they can play within the game plans that Aussie rugby thrives on. If we do that then we'll be much better equipping guys to make the step from club up to the fully professional ranks.

then most of the good players would leave, as they do in soccer.

agree with this, you should be eligible if you are signed, and should be picked if you are better. After all JoC would need more time with McKenzie and the team to be ready for next year and the rwc.

I applaud McKenzies stand, if you are making plans to play overseas then it's Bon voyage, he must be certain of which players he has long term and I believe we all know that chaps. I personally would love to see all OS players eligible for rep duty, our depth would be enormous, the Boks do it I really don't see why we can't do the same.

Yeah mate, not saying I disagree with that. The opposite would also hold though wouldn't it? If JOC had signed with the Reds, and was contracted to be here for RWC, shouldn't he be eligible, and wouldn't it be a good idea to pick him in the squad now, to make the squad/team as strong as possible? It seems returnees are disadvantaged, but maybe that's the price you pay for being payed heaps and living in the south of France. First. World. Problems.

Over rated, good player but hardly going to be a loss for AUS. The big negative for NSW is the ability to rotate their tight 5 through the year and not lose too much quality.

I think leaving the players who are leaving Australia out of the Wallabies, at least initially, is a sensible move. After all, McKenzie knows his job is going to hinge on the team’s performance at the RWC, why would he not be focussed on making sure the team he can select is as strong as possible? If there are injuries certainly he should be considered, but in that case I would expect guys like Jones and Coleman would get a call up before Douglas did.

Agree Shop. It seems to get you both ends. For example Douglas cant be picked because he is going (but is still contracted). But if JOC had signed saying he was coming back, he wouldnt be eligible until he was actually here. So commitment to country (the JOC example) is void as an argument isn't it? Not saying it hasn't been good to see Carter, Skelton, Jones etc, just the rules seem ambiguous.

It is ridiculous to rule out a player who is contracted to the ARU because they are going overseas later. Sure, pick players that are willing to stick around first but don't count leaving players out until they've actually left.

Completely agree. His form may have merited selection, but those who 'deserve' to be selected are those who have both form and commitment to their country. Clearly his desire to play for his country wasn't as great as his desire for some extra cash and life experiences.

The big Doug should have been a Wallaby this year, but I support Links selections. We need to bleed a few of the young and upcoming talent. We have plenty of depth and experience in numerous positions but the second row. Will be our weakness come Rugby Championship and RWC.

jez - as resident scrum guru I have a question for you - a lot of Australia's best dark arts exponents head overseas to Europe at some point to develop their game/skills - Dan Palmer has gone, Salesi Ma'afu went, Kane Douglas is going, Laurie Fisher and Michael Cheika went over as coaches - is it possible that we can keep our dirty scrummager forwards in Australia? If so, how? Or are we just going to have to accept that for them to get better (and for us to strengthen the Wallaby scrum) we need to let them be moulded in the furnace of NH rugby and then try to lure them back? Should we be sending tight five forwards overseas deliberately with an eye on beefing up our scrum?

He has made his choice and must now live with it. He choose money over country so good-bye and good luck.

Douglas has been great this year. Will be missed and I hope this isn't the last time we see him playing in Oz.