Modern greats David Pocock and Will Genia are among eight players departing the Wallabies on a dismal note to take up offshore club contracts next year.
The tears in the Wallabies dressing room after their Rugby World Cup quarter-final humbling reflected deep disappointment at their exit and the sadness of losing some of the country’s genuinely great players.
Eight squad members have confirmed they’re moving to offshore club contracts next year, including centurions Will Genia and Sekope Kepu, along with celebrated flanker David Pocock.
Others shifting on are star midfield back Samu Kerevi, five-eighths Christian Lealiifano and Bernard Foley, and locks Rory Arnold and Adam Coleman.
Kerevi and Arnold were among Australia’s premier performers in 2019 and will be nearly impossible to replace immediately.
But it was some of the longer-serving players in the forefront of captain Michael Hooper’s thoughts following the 40-16 loss to England in Oita on Saturday.
Asked directly about the contributions of Genia and Pocock, Hooper found it hard to stomach that the departees had been farewelled on such on a flat note.
“I’ve been a fan of those guys from being a young fella, to now playing alongside (them). Very proud to represent Australia with them,” said Pocock, who is left hanging on 99 Tests.
“A lot of me wanted to be able to send those guys out how they deserved to, but we weren’t able to and that’s part of the feeling – I’m feeling pretty gutted.”
Pocock, Genia and Kepu were all lining up at their third World Cup. The latter pair finish on 110 caps, equal-sixth on the all-time Wallabies list.
“It’s the end. A bit of an outpouring of emotion after the game,” said Papua New Guinea-born halfback Genia.
“It’s been an amazing journey. I’ve been so blessed and so privileged to have lived my dream. I’m very sad but also very grateful. Like, how lucky? Got to play 11 years for Australia.”
“I never thought I was the most talented bloke, I always wanted to be someone who worked hard so put myself in a position to play well.”
Zimbabwe-born Pocock was just as proud.
A star of the two previous tournaments, he finishes with 83 caps, something he had never considered achievable.
“As an immigrant moving to Australia, rugby has given me so much opportunity. I am grateful for the support I have had in Australia and family and friends in Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans all around the world.”
Victorious England flanker Sam Underhill paid homage to Pocock and his influence.
He said he and fellow back-rower Tom Curry, who was named man of the match, had regarded it a privilege to line up opposite the legendary ball snaffler.
“It’s a bit surreal coming up against him this evening. Tom and myself were talking about it, he’s been such a brilliant player,” Underhill said.
“Any young back-row growing up in the last five or 10 years has probably looked at him as a guy that they want to be like and play like.”
Rugby wizard
Guest
EJ is a good coach but I think he won't want to coach Wallabies again. I am going for PDV because of his history to develope players, 80 percent of Jake White's team was coached by PDV at under 19 and under 21 level. We must also remember that it took a special coach to get players like Brussouw and Morne Steyn to be better than Carter and McCaw on the day more than once. We have to look at the time he coached South Africa up against the greatest all black team and a strong and dangerous Wallaby team under Deans and he did well. The general feeling amongst NZL and SA fans I have spoken to is he can help take the Wallabies to the top even if he is a assistant coach. Can the Wallabies dominate the Springboks under PDV the answer is Yes. Can the Wallabies win the bedisloe under PDV the answer Yes .
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So with improving 20s, 18s and Super Rugby teams being competitive again, how is the track record dismal? Isn’t this exactly what they should be doing to ensure the Wallaby coach has something to work with? Every team in Aus now has a decent right 5. We have young halves pushing for spots and exciting backs coming through. This actually has nothing to do with RC and CC because it’s from what those before them did. We won’t see the results from what they are or aren’t doing now for a number of years. Just like we didn’t really see what JON wasn’t doing until the last decade.
GusTee
Roar Pro
No TWAS, sack those whose track record in our game is abysmal. Put simply, find someone who will lead positively from the top, show genuine interest in the grass roots and unify rugby (after all it is Rugby Union) in our country. The incumbents at the top simply do not have the mettle needed to revive our game.
GusTee
Roar Pro
Lol - SandBox - "villain" yes, "super" definitely not!
GusTee
Roar Pro
Nonsense TWAS - you of all know as well as I do that if we were dealing in the real corporate world, the incumbent chair person with whom "I am fixated", would have been on his bike long ago.
Expo
Roar Rookie
Let's remember that Cameron Clyne is the chairman of the board of directors. As such the board is responsible for, amongst other things, the appointment of the CEO and on the recommendation of the CEO, the coach. What CC does not do is put on boots and run onto the field. That responsibility lies elsewhere. There are 2 discussions to be had when engaging in a WC result post mortem. The first is whether Australian Rugby structure can be improved so that participation AND retention is achieved. Billy Smith and Angus Crichton play for the Roosters and both were GPS rugby players. The League spotted them and threw $ and they are lost. These are the types of issues that the States and RA need to address in a combined fashion. Second the coaches and players are the masters of their own destiny. They elect the style of play and there was no interference by the Board. It is simplistic to blame the woes of the game on 1 person who neither coaches, selects or plays. Everything the coach asked for he got. Watching the interview of Eddie Jones revealed all. The WB coach is stuck in the old days. It is a 23 man game. It's 2019..adapt or leave. It's like the student who blames the questions for his/her failure.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Expectations were set too high. Why should WBs have beaten England? Cheika had a sub 50% win record. England have been a far better team.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Let's not forget Adam Ashley-Cooper also retired from Test Rugby... again.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@wizard What about return of Eddie J now as WB coach. He's off contract with England and is clearly a much improved coach since he got WBs to the world cup final.
Rugby wizard
Guest
Departing players 1.Pocock 2.Genia 3.Kerevi 4.Foley 5.Kepu 6.Arnold 7.CLL 8.Coleman and Australian rugby won't even suffer and probably become a higher ranked team with the talent of 1.Mcreight 2.Mcdermott 3.lohelsio 4.Harrisen 5.Vui 6.Hockings 7.Mcdonald 8.Frost Now let's get to the coach and history has shown that being a good coach at super rugby level does not necessarily mean you can be a successful international coach. I am a big fan of Mckellar but the Wallabies need a coach of international pedigree, if not head coach at least part of the coaching team. Rennie-No Schmidt-Yes Jake White-No My personal opinion on head coach will definitely get some critics but what about PDV on a short term contract. Many will say he inherited a good Jake White team but let's remember 80 percent of Jake White's team was coached by PDV at under 19 and under 20 level. His style of rugby will sit well with many fans compared to that of JW,If we think purely about rugby and nothing else PDV is worth a try. What I am suggesting is not not what SARU and NZL fans want to hear.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That’s a joke. Hugh Roach struggled for game time at the Rebels, went to NPC and immediately was a top performer. It shouldn’t be a surprise when SR players do well in M10 Cup. They’ve been used to a higher standard. It should be easier.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
We say this as some super solution. Just sack everybody. That will fix it. Cheika has been there longer than Castle. He was coach a year longer than Clyne has been Chairman. He has been there longer than about half of the board. Perhaps he is a major part of the Wallabies problem?
Josh
Roar Rookie
Hika, the best thing that could have happen to those kids is that they spend time playing in the npc in the nz system. Away from the "your so special and talented" spotlight here. Look at the ex rebels first 5, now playing for northland and see how he had developed. Then look at the pressure on petaia after one good super rugby game against the 4th best nz team.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Daniel More silly fantasy totally over-rating all but 1 of the departing WBs. Pocock is the only WB great leaving. Kepu was good in his prime for a yr or 2 - that was 5 yrs ago. Genia same but has been in terminal decline for past 4 yrs and is now not even Test standard. Foley only ever played 1 good series - the 2015 RWC. He's been poor ever since. Kerevi just started his Test career but has bolted for more $$. Arnold same. Coleman has been a major disappointment all of 2019. CLL is an amazing recent success story - good luck to him. Daniel - its counter productive for the good of Aust Rugby to so over-hype players who were in fact major disappointments. What is need now is hard sober understanding of Australian failings during the slide to no 7-8 in world
SandBox
Roar Guru
His name seems like a super-Villain when you repeatedly write it in CAPS This should be the opportunity for major change, starting with CC
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
I am an “international import” to Australia though you wouldn’t know it because I am white and no longer have an accent. However, having been here since I was 14, worked hard, paid my taxes and even served in the Australian Army, let me tell you that if somebody was to question my ability to serve my country as well as any other Aussie, we would be having strong words. The same goes for these overseas born Wallabies players, most of them came here as kids and they should be considered no less Aussie than somebody who was born here. Australia is an immigration nation and a third of the squad is only slightly more than the proportion of Australians born overseas, so the squad is representative of our nation. There are plenty of other reasons why the Wallabies have failed other than the overseas born players, focusing on that old chestnut is the very definition of “paper in over the cracks.
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
Core remains rather. Forgot to replace Arnold and wish we didn’t have to! Choice if one: Simmons
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
Good read. Major crossroads but core team remind. You heard it first. Run on side will see Swinton for Pocock rather than Lukhan. Young Qld half to takeover from Genia. Bryce Hegarty at 10 while the youngsters develop. OConnor at 12. I think we can do better than Hodge and Beale but not sure if Banks on the wing and Haylett Petty would have done a lot better.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I think you mean “Bobby I understand but I am fixated on Cameron Clyne and will only blame him solely for anything”
tsuru
Roar Rookie
KCOL, "Last night would’ve been a great game to start our World Cup campaign- not to end it." I like to make a case for last night being the start of our World Cup campaign for 2023. The obvious starting point is the performance of Jordan Petaia. Few would argue about his class and he must now be seen as the Wallaby 13 for some time to come. Fitness permitting. I don't want to go on reviewing all the possible future Wallabies. Just let's look at the younger players who played in Japan, are staying in OZ, will be under 30 for 2023, and look good for us in the immediate future: Tupou, Alaalatoa, Uelese, Latu, Fainga'a, Vui, Rodda, Salakaia-Loto, Dempsey, Naisarani, Hodge. And then there are a bunch who have been recognized as possibles for the future: Johnson-Holmes, Hoopert, Paenga-Amosa, Rangi, Hockings, Swinton, Valetini, Wright, McReight, McDermott, Powell, Sorovi, Deegan, Isaac Lucas, Maddocks, Stewart, Magnay, Ikitau, Newsome, Banks. And others I'm sure I've missed. And hopefully a bunch more from this year's under 20s and then players who have shown promise in the NRC. And, importantly, a coach. Preparation for 2023 starts now.