Wallabies halfback Will Genia has heaped praise on his Stade Francais bosses for allowing him to rejoin Australia’s grand slam bid, while coach Michael Cheika refused to contemplate his availability for next month’s all-important England clash.
With the experienced halfback back in camp with the Wallabies, Cheika faces two important questions.
The first, of whether Australia’s star of the Rugby Championships should be rushed straight back into a winning side, will be answered early in the week ahead of the Murrayfield Test against Scotland on Saturday (0130 Sunday kickoff AEDT).
The second, trickier conundrum surrounds the 28-year-old’s availability for the tour-ending clash with England.
That fixture could be Australia’s chance to secure a rare grand slam win – a first since 1984 – should they remain undefeated until that point, which is still a mighty task given their upcoming clashes with Scotland and Ireland.
Genia on Monday thanked Stade Francais president Thomas Savare for freeing him up to face Scotland, France and Ireland – despite a recent glut of injuries the the club’s halfbacks.
“It’s still a big thing for him to let me come, so I’m very grateful,” Genia said.
“A lot of the people at the club are very understanding of the fact it’s still important for me to want to play for my country.”
Whether Cheika will lobby hard for Genia to be granted a release from his French club for a Test which falls outside the international window is something he’s not ready to contemplate.
“You can ask me that question on November 28 (after the Ireland game, if the grand slam is still on offer),” Cheika said in Edinburgh on Monday.
“What we do this week will decide how much I’ll be able to ask that question later on.
“I think it’s irrelevant because right now the only game where the grand slam is up, is Scotland.”
Cheika suggested Genia was ‘hurt’ at being denied a release for last weekend’s clash with Wales, which also fell outside World Rugby’s international window.
“It probably hurt him last week, not being able to play, but that’s the way we always knew it was going to be,” Cheika said.
Of more immediate concern for Cheika is to work out how to reintegrate his star No.9 in a team which looked as crisp in attack as it has since last year’s World Cup.
To change up a winning team could be considered a risk, especially with Nick Phipps warming to the role of starting halfback with an impressive display against Wales.
“(Genia has) obviously had a great Rugby Championship, there’s no doubt about it,” Cheika siad.
“But Phipps has played well these past two games. That’s exactly what I want to have, these issues.”
Stu. B.
Guest
Stick with the OZ players!
Timbo (L)
Guest
The problem is the ARU et. al. planning crucial games outside the window. If I was Stade with a depth problem at #9, I probably wouldn't release him either. It may pay to remember that the comps go on hiatus during the internationals. A missing player is not an issue. Outside the window, they need to find a 4th string halfback to fill his shoes. Having a player injured in an international - well, that is just part of the game. You smash gladiators against each other week in, week out, this is going to happen, club owners have no right to complain. This is a world game and they have cherry picked the worlds best..
cuw
Guest
9.7 Global Release Periods There are two Global Release Periods. (a) The June window The Right to Release for Matches shall apply to each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team of a Union in respect of all International Matches, International Tours and International Tournaments played over a period of three weekends in June each year, save in a Rugby World Cup year, during which year the June window shall not operate in respect of Unions that qualified for the Rugby World Cup. Unless Council approves otherwise the three weekends in June shall be the second, third and fourth weekends. (b) The November window The Right to Release for Matches shall apply to each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team of a Union in respect of all International Matches, International Tours and International Tournaments played over a period of three weekends in November each year, save in a Rugby World Cup year, during which year the November window shall not operate in respect of Unions that qualified for the Rugby World Cup. Unless Council approves otherwise the three weekends in November shall be the second, third and fourth weekends. 9.8 Hemisphere Release Periods and Tournament Release Period There are two Hemisphere Release Periods. (a) Northern Hemisphere Release Period (i) The Right to Release for Matches shall apply to Players who are eligible pursuant to Regulation 8 to represent the senior, the next senior National Representative Team or the Under 20 National Representative Team of a Northern Hemisphere Union in a Northern Hemisphere International Match, International Tour or International Tournament during the Northern Hemisphere Release Period. Tournament during the Northern Hemisphere Release Period. (ii) The Northern Hemisphere Release Period shall operate each year. It shall run from the first weekend of February each year and conclude on the third weekend of March. Players shall be released prior to the Northern Hemisphere Release Period in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 9.9. (iii) Subject to the provisions of Regulation 9.32 and Regulation 9.33, during the Northern Hemisphere Release Period Unions may only exercise the Right to Release pursuant to this Regulation 9 for five weeks out of the seven week period. The five weeks shall be the same weeks for each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team. (iv) Unless Council approves otherwise for the purposes of this Regulation 9, Northern Hemisphere Union shall mean the Unions listed in Appendix 1, Part A and Northern Hemisphere International Match(es), International Tour or International Tournament shall mean those Matches, Tours or Tournaments listed in Appendix 1, Part B. Tournament during the Northern Hemisphere Release Period. (ii) The Northern Hemisphere Release Period shall operate each year. It shall run from the first weekend of February each year and conclude on the third weekend of March. Players shall be released prior to the Northern Hemisphere Release Period in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 9.9. (iii) Subject to the provisions of Regulation 9.32 and Regulation 9.33, during the Northern Hemisphere Release Period Unions may only exercise the Right to Release pursuant to this Regulation 9 for five weeks out of the seven week period. The five weeks shall be the same weeks for each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team. (iv) Unless Council approves otherwise for the purposes of this Regulation 9, Northern Hemisphere Union shall mean the Unions listed in Appendix 1, Part A and Northern Hemisphere International Match(es), International Tour or International Tournament shall mean those Matches, Tours or Tournaments listed in Appendix 1, Part B. (b) Southern Hemisphere Release Period (i) The Right to Release for Matches shall apply to Players who are eligible pursuant to Regulation 8 to represent the senior, the next senior National Representative Team or the Under 20 National Representative Team of a Southern Hemisphere Union in a Southern Hemisphere International Match, International Tour or International Tournament during the Southern Hemisphere Release Period.(ii) Unless Council approves otherwise the Southern Hemisphere Release Period shall operate each year. It shall commence on or around July 1 and shall conclude on or around August 31. Players shall be released prior to the Southern Hemisphere Release Period in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 9.9. (iii) Subject to the provisions of Regulation 9.32 during the Southern Hemisphere Release Period Unions may only exercise the Right to Release pursuant to this Regulation 9 for six weeks out of the nine week period. The six weeks shall be the same weeks for each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team. (iv) Unless Council approves otherwise for the purposes of this Regulation 9, Southern Hemisphere Union shall mean the Unions listed in Appendix 2, Part A and Southern Hemisphere International Match(es), International Tour or International Tournament shall mean those Matches, Tours or Tournaments listed in Appendix 2, Part B. Effective from 1 June 2012 a Tournament Release Period shall be introduced to be known as the Four Nations Release Period. (c) Four Nations Release Period (i) The Right to Release for Matches shall apply to Players who are eligible pursuant to Regulation 8 to represent the senior, the next senior National Representative Team or the Under 20 National Representative Team of a Four Nations Union in the Four Nations International Tournament during the Four Nations Release Period. (ii) Unless Council approves otherwise the Four Nations Release Period shall operate each year for an eight week period. It shall commence on or around the third weekend in August and shall conclude on or around the first weekend in October each year. Players shall be released prior to the Four Nations Release Period in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 9.9. (iii) Subject to the provisions of Regulation 9.32 and Regulation 9.33 during the Four Nations Release Period Unions may only exercise the Right to Release pursuant to this Regulation 9 for six weeks out of the eight week period. The six weeks shall be the same weeks for each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team. (iv) Unless Council approves otherwise for the purposes of this Regulation 9, Four Nations Union shall mean the Unions listed in Appendix 2, Part B.
riddler
Guest
it is a business.. the window is specific.. the england games falls outside of the window.. i can only imagine that would be some sort of significant financial compensation being done in the background for genia to play againt the poms. the slight possibility would be if they had someone who wasn't a regular first team player and would be willing to let him go.. but then a lot of clubs would not do it out of principal and creating precedents.. personally i do not see the issue.. players are getting remunerated very well.. they know the rules when they sign.. black and white really..
riddler
Guest
don't see it as being such a classy thing.. bit of education and normal really.. since when did the bar get so low for a bit of humility and education?
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Plus he wants to play v England
cuw
Guest
IT IS INTERESTING TO FIND OUT HOW THIS WORKS OUT. " Genia on Monday thanked Stade Francais president Thomas Savare for freeing him up to face Scotland, France and Ireland – despite a recent glut of injuries the the club’s halfbacks. " we know he can play 3 tests. but does the regulations and rules and everything else under the sun, leave room for all parties to negotiate? for eg. can Australia or Genia say i will play my 3 matches against Wales , Ireland and England? or can the club say no way jose, u play against Scotland France and Ireland , on these weekends? also what are the roles and responsibilities of each party in this threesome ? :)
Crispy Duck
Roar Rookie
No, but Genia is being gracious and a diplomat. Class.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Did Stade have a choice under Reg 9?