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What happened to Australia A? Second-tier international rugby, in my eyes, is the best pathway to producing Test-ready, world-class players before they receive their Wallabies jersey.
Much has been made of the need for Australia to build a strong foundation for the future in recent years, starting with the unsuccessful Australian Rugby Championship in 2007, a failed attempt at mimicking New Zealand’s ITM Cup and South Africa’s Currie Cup.
The tournament ran for a single season before being dumped by the ARU. Similarly, many articles in recent weeks and months have focused on the need for a strengthened grassroots program and an expanded rugby presence in Western Sydney.
I fully agree with this assessment, and hope the ARU works towards a strong base for Australian rugby in coming years. The reshuffling of Sydney club rugby is also a topic being hotly discussed at the moment, as more and more focus shifts towards the next generations of players to pull on the green and gold.
The latest and arguably most effective move for Australian rugby’s future has been the reintroduction of second-tier domestic rugby, in the new National Rugby Championship.
The NRC has undoubtedly uncovered some great new talent – look no further than the impact Nic Stirzaker and Jack Debreczeni have had for the Rebels this year.
Stirzaker went from four starts in 2014 to 15 in 2015, a remarkable reflection of the immediate effect of second-tier domestic rugby. So impressive was his breakthrough season that there were quiet rumblings when Stirzaker wasn’t selected as a bolter for Wallabies honours.
After just one season, the NRC is proving to be a vital stepping stone to a powerful Australian rugby future. And through Foxtel‘s sponsorship deal, the NRC is financially confirmed to run until at least 2020.
But how do we transfer this young raw talent into future Test gold? How do fringe players move to the starting XV? In the past, second-tier international rugby was this vital stepping stone. Now? Most players are simply thrown in the deep end with the Rugby Championship, which boasts the top two nations in the world and an Argentinian side that could topple any big nation on its day.
The result? Some thrive, like Tevita Kuridrani’s stunning debut against New Zealand in 2013. Few Wallabies outfits have started without him since. Others are thrown into the international mix far too early, and as a result we have a fine collection of unfulfilled talent. The list of players that have dropped off national selectors’ radar includes Jake Schatz, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Jesse Mogg, and who can forget Mike Harris’ last-gasp game winning kick against Wales in 2012.
Many of these young talents were very genuine Wallaby hopefuls. Many have now moved to overseas clubs, while others desperately ply their trade in Super Rugby in hope of recall. Although Greg Holmes’ eight-year crusade to pull on Wallabies colours is inspiring, it is very much the exception not the rule.
Additionally, many up-and-coming ‘fringe players’, such as Stirzaker, have missed out on any recognition or higher level experience simply because there is no solid pathway between Super Rugby and the international stage. Coaches often have no choice but to ignore such talents, as the stakes are too high to experiment in Rugby Championship matches or World Cup battles.
Look to last year, when the Wallabies called up third choice hooker Nathan Charles, following injuries to both captain Stephen Moore and his back-up Tatafu Polota-Nau. Charles, an inspiring story in himself and performed admirably on a tough stage against the All Blacks. But you can’t help but feel a little more experience would have boosted him to new heights.
A second-tier international team would have given Charles, and many other young talents, the experience required to perform on the world stage. In days gone by, Australia A competed in the Pacific Nations Cup, duelling with Fiji, Tonga, Japan, Samoa and the Junior All Blacks (New Zealand’s second-tier international side).
Australia A paved the path for many young hopefuls to get big-game experience, hone their skills and prove they had what was required to play with the big boys. Stephen Hoiles, future Brumbies captain, was the top try scorer in the 2008 Pacific Nations Cup for Australia A.
However, 2008’s Pacific Nations Cup was the last showing for Australia A, being scrapped later that year.
In 2010, the ARU organised an ‘Australian Barbarians’ team to face England in two tour matches. The next year, Berrick Barnes made a startling return from injury and played himself into World Cup contention playing for the Australian Barbarians against Canada.
Then, nothing.
Canada was the last international game played by a second-tier Australian side. Recently the Australian Under-20s side faced an Australian Barbarians outfit, but this team did not meet its former glory, filled with promising Shute Shield players.
The reintroduction of a second-tier Australian side would be a key step in building the future of Australian rugby. The NRC has showcased the raw talent found all over Australia, and how second-tier rugby can translate to Super Rugby success.
So why wouldn’t second-tier international rugby translate into better Wallabies results?
Financial issues shouldn’t be a worry anymore – a new Foxtel television deal reportedly has the ARU sailing into calmer waters, and consistently performing Super Rugby sides have brought crowds back to stadiums.
It doesn’t have to be Australia A, or the Australian Barbarians. A NRC team of the season taking on a Junior Wallaby outfit would be a cracking match. Anything to bring second-tier international rugby back to life in Australia.
So what would a team of fringe players look like?
My ‘Fringe XV’ 2015
1. Paul Alo-Emile (Rebels)
2. Nathan Charles (Force)
3. Scott Sio (Brumbies)
4. Rory Arnold (Brumbies)
5. Luke Jones (Rebels)
6. Ita Vaea (Brumbies)
7. Liam Gill (Reds) (Captain)
8. Lopeti Timani (Rebels)
9. Nic Stirzaker (Rebels) (Vice-Captain)
10. Jack Debreczeni (Rebels)
11. Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs)
12. Samu Kerevi (Reds)
13. Mitch Inman (Rebels)
14. Sefanaia Naivalu (Rebels)
15. Luke Morahan (Force)
16. Pek Cowan (Force)
17. Josh Mann-Rea (Brumbies)
18. Jeremy Tilse (Waratahs)
19. Adam Coleman (Force)
20. Jack Dempsey (Waratahs)
21. Joe Powell (Brumbies)
22. Tom English (Rebels)
23. Andrew Kellaway (Waratahs)
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.