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Opinion
Andy Marinos recently stated that Australian rugby are reviewing the existing 60-cap threshold with the likelihood of it being lowered significantly to allow the Wallabies to select more players based overseas.
Putting aside the potential impacts such adjustments would have on the local player quality for a moment, would the sudden availability of the players now playing overseas make the Wallabies a significantly stronger team?
The SMH article by Sam Phillips listed 88 players currently plying their skills overseas. Admittedly, I have not been following the players while they are playing overseas, but based on reputation when they were here in Australia, the only players from the list I would consider picking into the current Wallaby squad would be my ‘Expat Squad’ below.
Expat squad
Front Row:
Paddy Ryan (Prop), Tolu Latu (Hooker)
Second Row:
Rory Arnold, Will Skelton, Harry Hockings, Adam Coleman, Sam Carter, Luke Jones, Richie Arnold
Backrowers: Sean McMahon, Liam Gill, Angus Cottrell, Jarrad Butler.
Halfbacks: Nic Stirzaker.
Five-eighths: None.
Centres: Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia’aua.
Wingers/fullbacks: Henry Speight, Sefa Naivalu, Peter Betham, Luke Morahan, Joe Tomane.
So the question arises, would a dramatic loosening of eligibility rules make any ‘significant’ difference to the Wallabies right now?
For consideration, let’s look at our most recent Wallaby 23 (Bledisloe 2) and also throw in our injured and other ‘likely’ starters:
Wallabies (15-1): Tom Banks, Andrew Kellaway, Hunter Paisami, Matt To’omua, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper (c), Lachlan Swinton, Matt Philip, Darcy Swain, Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper
Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Harry Wilson, Nic White, Len Ikitau, Reece Hodge
Injured and other ‘likely’ starters:
James O’Connor, Isi Naisarani, Jordan Petaia, Izack Rodda, Angus Bell, Tom Wright, Jake Gordon, Fraser McRight.
Our performances in the Bledisloe series to date, have highlighted the need for the Wallabies to play the full 80 minutes, but also that our forwards have been a strength while our backs have been outclassed by bigger, faster, and more skilful players, particularly at centre and the halves.
Tate McDermott feeds the scrum for the Wallabies. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
When I considered the players in the ‘Expat Squad’ who I believe could potentially displace current members of the Wallaby 23, they were mostly the tight five, a couple of centres and an outside back (e.g. Tolu Latu, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Samu Kerevi, Sefa Naivalu) and my ‘merged’ team looked like this:
Wallabies (15-1): Tom Banks, Andrew Kellaway, Hunter Paisami, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Harry Wilson, Michael Hooper (c), Rob Valetini, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Allan Alaalatoa, Tolu Latu, James Slipper
Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto/Matt Philip, Lachlan Swinton, Nic White, Duncan Paia’aua, Len Ikitau/Reece Hodge
Out – Darcy Swain, Matt To’omua
So what became apparent from the merged team? The backs are still a weakness, still missing a world-class option at fullback, still missing our ‘Dan Carter’ at five-eighth (we don’t have one) and we still lack depth in this key position, and although the lock positions (and tight five) suddenly looked a lot stronger the pack could arguably remain the same with our existing stock who have to date done a good job.
So, would opening up the eligibility rules make the Wallabies significantly stronger right now? I would probably say it would make a difference yes, but would the changes put us in a position where our positional problems would be solved?
The answer would be no. What is apparent is that the solution is a focus on the long term, investment in coaching, player pathways and the grassroots to find and develop the players that the Wallabies need to be successful.
Ironically, the making the eligibility rules too loose, while strengthening the Wallabies, might backfire at the grassroots level.
So, who would be in your ‘Expat Squad’ and ‘Merged Team’? And what are your thoughts on how it would affect the levels below the Wallabies?
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.