Wallabies star Adam Ashley-Cooper is bracing for a showdown with his French employers as he resumes his decade-long quest for Bledisloe Cup glory.
While Bordeaux have freed up Ashley-Cooper for Australia’s first two games of the Rugby Championship – which double as Bledisloe Cup battles against the All Blacks on August 20 and 27 – the backline ace faces an ongoing club-versus-country struggle.
The entire Rugby Championship lasts eight weeks and starts the day before the French Top 14 season starts.
Not only do the two major southern hemisphere competitions clash directly with the French season, the third – and potentially decisive – Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland on October 22 stretches the duration of the Wallabies’ Test campaign to 10 weeks.
Fellow France-based Wallabies Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau, who admit to making a considerable financial sacrifice to take leave from Toulon, are in the same boat as Ashley-Cooper.
“I’ve just kind of made the decision to come back based on these first two games and the (third) encounter against the Kiwis, which is the Bledisloe,” Ashley-Cooper said on Tuesday.
“My situation’s a little bit different to the boys who are here fulltime, so I’ve got to play that on the run.
“But, for me, my decision was based on achieving a Bledisloe Cup.
Asked if he would be available for the potential series decider in Auckland, Ashley-Cooper said: “I tell you what, that certainly makes the conversation with my French club president over there very, very interesting.
“I’ve only got one ambition this year and that’s to raise the Bledisloe Cup.”
The predicament facing Ashley-Cooper, Mitchell and Giteau may prove a test of World Rugby’s Regulation 9, which requires clubs to release players for international duty.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is unlikely not to pick the star trio for all Tests during Australia’s Rugby Championship defence and, of course, the Bledisloe Cup, arguably the most prestigious rugby competition outside of the World Cup.
“The guys that are coming back from France, everyone’s individual situation is different and they’re conversations that are going to have to be had on the run with Cheik, the ARU and all the club presidents back home,” Ashley-Cooper said.
“So all we’re focusing on now is game one and that’s hopefully a win.”
Shane D
Roar Rookie
That's one side if it Chris but the more worrying outcome is that players will be offered a higher value contract if they have retired from test rugby.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Yep, the clubs don't have to release players outside the prescribed window. Even inside the window players only have to be released for 6 matches. Anything over that has to be negotiated between the player, the ARU & the players club.
Richard
Guest
Well we`ve had Gitaeu AAC and Mitchell for 10 years at their peak and never won the bledisloe,, Why now will it change when they are slower weaker and less fit..??
Bakkies
Guest
It's more the length of regulation 9. Whether you agree with players should be released for all test, you have to look at it from the other side that 10 weeks is a long time to be away from your club. Then there are the Autumn internationals which are a couple of weeks after the last test in NZ
Bakkies
Guest
Cheika knows you no longer can pick players out of Randwick 2nd Grade and play a test match.
John R
Roar Guru
Just for some background on Regulation 9. The 'Four Nations' release period (aka Rugby Championship) covers an 8 week window from 'the third weekend in August' through to the 'first weekend in October' (from the World Rugby Handbook 9.8 (c)(ii)). http://www.worldrugby.org/wr-resources/WorldRugbyDIR/Handbook/English/index.html#/180/ So that third Bledisloe test is outside any requirement of World Rugby for those players to be released, and if we're seeing those guys playing that test, it's purely through the goodwill of their employers (and as already stated in the article, would most likely come in the form of unpaid leave).
puff
Guest
It is realistic to understand upon receiving the Cheika invite, that our older, slower off shore contingent still visualize themselves as important. The Wallaby jersey can be difficult to dismiss. Is this arrogance or do they add valve moving forward? For OZ’s younger talented possible inclusions who are knocking on the door, asking questions and remaining committed to the SH competition, they must be somewhat pissed and disillusioned with Cheika’s thinking. In truth, none of these three, French based musketeers have ever lofted the Bledisloe above their head. Hence, looking at the unrelenting pool of talent in NZ, perhaps they never will. Loyalty, devotion and brushing off the sense of self esteem will not deliver the ARU the Bledisloe cup. Having faith, commitment and developing the assets we have locally available, delivers better value, including future possibilities. Cheika continues to be disrespectful to the younger contingent and rugby supporter generally. He needs to stop the smoke and mirrors routine and devote his expertise supporting Australian based players, before them to, become unenthusiastic and catch a Boeing.
Chris
Guest
I think it is more important that these guys are lowering the value of buying aussie players, knowing they will now be subject to rule 9 returns to aus.
tsuru
Guest
I believe he is thinking, "We would like to win the Bledisloe and the RC with the best available players."
Paul
Guest
It sounds more like his permission window does not extend to the third match, and he'll have that conversation when he needs to. It may well be that he could be injured or not selected for B3, so why commit to a big pay cut just yet?
Markus
Guest
Faster yes, better no. Not at this point anyway. Horne is not a better winger than Mitchell or AAC (wing is where he will more likely feature). Kuridrani has been in poor form and while Hodge has far more development potential, he is definitely not a better centre than AAC at this time. I think their experience is great to have in the squad, but barring injuries I would still be picking others before them. It would be detrimental to persist with all of them in the starting team at the expense of other players.
Squirrel
Guest
The players from overseas are just not that good pick Aust based players and blood them. What is Cheika thinking
Jimmy
Guest
I take AAC's comments to mean that he will only take part until the series becomes un-winnable. I understand the difficulties he and others face with the clubs, and indeed the club's expectations, but this scenario does not comfortably with me.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Why are these three players so vital to winning the Bledisloe????? IMO they should stay in France and give service to the clubs that paid them a great deal on money to play. It seems they are having their cake etc. Surely in the whole of Australia there are faster, better players than these three older players. I can think of three centres better than AAC and Giteau and two wingers better than Mitchell. Wing, Haylett Petty, Rob Horne. Centres, Kerevi, Kurindrani, Hodge, Folau. I have named what I would pick before these three I'm sure others will disagree. IMO we should move on from these old guys and give some others a chance. The quick fix is not there. I would be more pleased with Cheika if he was to nurture and draw from within our shores and take the path of starting from scratch to build a team that can go to the next world cup and maybe win a Bledisloe on the way.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
I would prefer if they just went back to France. Its time for Australia to pick local talent, and growing them into Wallabies, rather than using the old guard. I understand picking overseas players for a world cup, but not other years.