We asked Roarers in a poll after the news broke that experienced Wallabies would remain available for national duty if they are playing for overseas clubs who would you pick, and if you thought it was a good move.
The move has been a long time coming, and it sparked some great conversation on the site immediately, and all throughout the following day.
Big shoutout to Cameron Mee who wrote an article about it straight after the fact.
More:
>> READ ANDREW LOGAN’S ASSESSMENT OF THE CHANGE
>> CAMERON MEE’S ARTICLE ON THE CHANGES
>> FULL DETAILS ON THE CHANGES
The poll, as with anything on The Roar, showed that people hold very different opinions of what Michael Cheika should do as a result of the change. But the first question we asked, whether you think it’s a good move for Australian rugby to be able to select players based overseas, saw a whopping majority say ‘yes’.
We had over 600 people answer the poll, and 501 of you, or 77.8%, said you thought it was a good idea to be able to select from players based overseas.
What would be an interesting extra question is whether you think the 60 Test and seven-year criteria are good. Leave a comment in the box below this article and we’ll feature some of the best in the article when we update it later in the day.
The trickier question was whether Michael Cheika should select the two most realistic candidates for a spot in the Wallabies 23, Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell.
Here, Roarers were more divided. 42.9% of you said we should select just Matt Giteau for the team, with the 32-year-old by far Australia’s most experienced inside back.
People weren’t as keen on Drew Mitchell, with just him being selected getting 3.1% of the vote.
Selecting both players was backed by a healthy 19.6% of Roarers, while selecting neither player gathered 31.4% of the votes.
So, if we were to make some conclusions from what you guy said, it would be that you would like players to be selected from overseas. That was an emphatic yes.
On the question of selection, Matt Giteau will be right up there in Roarers’ Wallabies XV for the World Cup, but Drew Mitchell probably won’t.
The full breakdown of the poll results is below.
What do you think Roarers? Is this a fair reflection of your attitude to the changes?
ROAR POLL RESULTS
Do you think selecting overseas-based players is a good move for the Wallabies?
| Yes | 501 | 77.8% |
| No | 104 | 16.1% |
Would you select any of the following players in your Wallabies team?
| Drew Mitchell | 20 | 3.1% |
| Matt Giteau | 276 | 42.9% |
| Both | 126 | 19.6% |
| Neither | 202 | 31.4% |
john
Guest
I couldn't have said it better Aussies are clutching at straws with the call for Smith and Giteau. They have had there day especially Giteau, about 5 years ago
44bottles
Roar Guru
Are you sure??!!?? I thought it wouldn't matter about the forwards! It hasn't been mentioned enough that the Wallabies need good forwards to win!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Typo. Roberts is 110. The top 5 teams primarily use a 12 over 100kg.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Vs England this year Jamie Roberts played 12. He has been 1st choice 12 for most of Gatland's tenure as coach. NZ - Mauger, etc all 93 to Nonu/Williams av 107 SA - no change Wales - Watkins 95 to Roberts 100 Ireland - D'Arcy 91 to Henshaw 102 England - Catt, Tindall, Abbott av 93 to Twelvetrees, Burrell, Barritt - av 102 France is the only team that hasn't increased the size of their 12s. Barring a good RWC they have generally been weak too.
Golden
Guest
Birdy, I can't imagine any coach at international level believes that the threat from any opposition comes from either the forwards or backs exclusively. That seems an odd thing to say. However, I do think it is reasonable to believe that one will pose more of a threat to your game plan than the other. Secondly, the very purpose of utility reserves is to be able to inject them into a team in any number of positions with minimum disruption to the rhythm of the run on side. That's what makes utility players such as AAC and Giteau so valuable. They both have proven ability and experience playing multiple positions at test level. So the question of merit will come into the mix on current form and I think it is safe to say that Chieka will use his few tests prior to the WC to establish which players meets his requirements for his squad. Let's just wait and see what happens...
IronAwe
Guest
Great Aussie spirit here...
Not Bothered
Guest
Sorry, 8 from 10 and S.Williams is only 97 for Wales and I think he may have played at 12 in 2014.
Not Bothered
Guest
2014/2015 top 15 teams with first choice inside centres 95kg or under. Aus Arg Ital Sam Fra Jap Geo Can Teams that used big inside centres and are coached by a NZer or NZ rugby educated coach. Wales NZ Tonga Fiji Teams that used a player over 95 and under 95 at 12. Eng Scotland Ireland Teams that used big inside centres not coached by a NZer. Eng SA Mate, stop talking rubbish. 2 or 3 from 10? Only about 3 top 15 rugby nations on the planet didnt use an inside centre 95kg or smaller over the last 12 months. T1 teams that mainly used inside centres 95kg or smaller in 2014. Arg Fra Aus Ire Ital Thats 5 from 10 T1 sides that mainly used them in 2014. T1 sides that used and inside centre 95 kg or under at all in 2014. NZ Aus Arg Fra Eng Ital Sco Ire 7 from 10.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yes they have been too small. Undoubtedly. Well perhaps size isn't the best wording. Physically dominant more so. And that has been a huge area where Australia has lacked. Toomua has provided the best balance of that and skill. Would it be better if he was bigger? Absolutely. But he plays big as some people say, which Giteau never did, because his game was based on skill and speed, not physicality.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I am saying that was the spread in 2006 when Giteau was at his peak. This is the spread now. Previously about 2 or 3 in 10 were over 95kg. This was when Giteau was at his peak. Now it's about 2 or 3 in 10. Umaga was primarily 13 and Nonu was never first choice until 2007 or later. Around the time Giteau's decline commenced.
Not Bothered
Guest
Aus inside centres used since 2009. Over 95 kg. None. 95kg or under. P.McCabe. Q.Cooper. B.Barnes. B.Tapuai. K.Beale. M.Giteau. C.Lealiifano. M.Toomua. So all of Australias test inside centres since 2009 have been too small? All 8 of them? Maybe you are wrong.
Not Bothered
Guest
And TWAS... Godwin 87kg.
Not Bothered
Guest
Last 3 weeks according to espn. Tackles made 22. Tackles missed 9. Missing about 29%. He is an very good defender, its just a shame that hes not a great deal more than that so far.
Not Bothered
Guest
Wiki 4kg. Espn 5kg.
Not Bothered
Guest
Well Smith is way older than them.
Not Bothered
Guest
Probably doesnt help that hes not going to make the squad because Aus has about 6 better options at inside centre and outside centre. Lets just wait and see how many test caps K.Godwin gets. Im betting less than 5 and closer to 0. He was selected as a prospect but he hasnt kicked on and is dropping in the pecking order due to Kerevi coming on and the form of guys like Inman.
Not Bothered
Guest
The commentators were waaaay wrong. He has missed tackles.
Not Bothered
Guest
So what you are saying is that when Gits was playing there were inside centres playing that were over 100 kgs like Mortlock, Nonu Umaga, de Villiers, Trielle and F.Steyn and now there are international centres 95kgs or under like Lealiifano, Toomua, Eastmond, Beale, M.Scott, L.Morisi, Hernandez and J.Leota in 2015. Thanks but I knew that and I knew you didnt understand that. And G.D'Arcy was Irelands first choice until 2014 ffs and you are saying 2006 8 years earlier!
Nigel Imrie
Guest
Whatever, Gitts excelled in France playing alongside Wilkinson and then shining in Bishkek right at ten, size isn't everything chaps and Gitts is testament to that!! European player of the year I believe but a highly skilled and gifted rugby man who shone outside of Australia amongst equally gifted players!!
Taylorman
Guest
Good point. Giteau was an impact player of sorts and you could do worse with he and Hooper off the bench. Don't agree with the split and I wouldn't have Giteau starting for oz this late in the piece. He left under the veil of poor performances 5 years ago, punctuated by the missed penalty against England. It's illogical to think Northern Hemisphere club form five years later means he's a better player at the top test level now though he could be given the benefit if the doubt and started in the RC. There's just no reference point for Cheika to measure his game from. An instinctive try anything type of player he was fun to watch but high risk in the Carlos Spencer mode.