Aussie Tuipulotu to make Scotland Six Nations start

I'm always happy when a saffer cracks the nod. I was even happy for Rathbone when he played for the Wallabies. Ditto Duhan for Scotland. They work hard for their families. South A falling apart, they are pioneers

Sad but true JN

And it definitely is the case. Mack Hansen for example was an excellent prospect and would have slotted into the starting XV at a couple of Australian teams, but at the same time might not even have made the best Brumbies 23 (thought with the drop off of Kata in 2021 and subsequent departure he probably pushes for a starting spot).

Yeah I felt Wessels made a real error overlooking Sione. Personally felt he was a bigger and better version of Paisami. Wessels got a bunch of bad press for supposedly telling Paisami he was too small (ignoring he was only sacked because of an alleged assault). Sione was the player he actually criminally overlooked. Physical with great footwork and skills. Would be right at home for the Rebels in 12 or 13 right now in fact.

RA is so NSW/QLD centric that they fail to look up and see quality players outside of Sydney and Brisbane. Sione is great player with an ankle breaking step and RA will come to rue the day the let this one get away.

Australian rugby must be extremely strong if players not even on national duty radar are being selected by other tier one nations.

Oh good, that’s better.

They’ve met you halfway Dave. Changed from three to five years consecutive in order to qualify. Can also be ten years total (ie. Non-consecutive) Still count grandparents

So sorry to hear JN, I had no idea that it was that bad. It now makes sense about you saying why players are going North for the money and a better future. Thanks for being honest about the problems facing SA.

:laughing:

Issues MK . The countries economy is 10% smaller than 20 years ago . The Joburg Stock Exchange has shed 40% of its listings same period . Infrastructure ie roads , power , water supply , education , crumbling . Rail networks have crumbled . Suburban trains no longer run , stations stripped and looted , tracks torn up for scrap . All the negatives , crime , income inequality, corruption on the increase . SA now a corrupt quasi socialist state and only hope is a change of govt which won’t happen in my lifetime . We still produce great rugby players though and plenty of them . They need to go play where they can have a future and be properly paid . Rugby can’t fix South Africa’s problems . Despite what Rassie and Siya may say or want us to believe .

Absolutely right Ken. If the cupboard is bare (here), look for another new cupboard.

Tuipolotou and Hansen at least have Scottish/Irish roots, although it’s still faintly ridiculous. But World Rugby should stamp out on people who have grown up in and represented their country or province at U-19 level or played provincial level rugby being able to go and represent another country just on the basis of three years’ residency. Not only does it devalue the meaning of international representation, which is one of rugby’s big selling points compared to some other codes, it’s simply unfair as a brain drain on poorer countries like the Pacific Islands and SA (no disrespect, but SA is a middle income country and it does have that effect). I see no downside. Players can still play pro rugby in Europe, and it’s up to their real countries of origin to decide whether to pick them. The 6 Nations etc have enough decent players to go without a couple of these. Make it a 7-year residency or maybe or no right at all, unless a player has moved country for reasons other than rugby. They have no “right” to play Test rugby just because they want to make extra money. And scrap the grandmother rule too.

Wow, you're what they call in the industry a "triple threat", jez!

What do think could help to resolve the issue in SA JN.

As long as they are not biting while laughing. :shocked:

Don’t need bites MK. Just looking for laughs. :stoked:

We have the same problem in NZ in regards to recruitment agents in NZ from the North and also NRL. Many young players have their heads turned by money and promises of a better career path.

May be the case with Aus and NZ . In South Africa , SA Rugby somewhere in its archives lies a survey done a few years ago where the 2 major reasons for going North were money and quota selections. With money being by far the major reason . But it’s also aggressive recruitment . Montpellier have an academy arrangement with Grey College in Bloemfontein signing up players still in High School . At the annual School and Varsity tournaments the venues are swimming with European talent scouts contracts in hand . Then of course with SA in its current state many simply looking for future security . That’s not applicable in NZ .

All the NH have been doing in recent years JN, Maitland played from the Crusaders and ABs and then played for Scotland, look who now plays for England, another Kiwi. Ireland and Wales also have bought in overseas players, even Italy in the past, also France have a Fijian player. Look at the OZ players now playing in the 6 Nations also! All Southern Hemisphere Rugby Nations have been affected. It is about the players that are down the pecking order and deciding to progress their careers overseas, it used to be purely based on money. I am now thinking is it the structures in place that are not working for the Southern Hemisphere teams, younger players are now going North. It used to be retired International players or players close to retirement that would go there. I clarify the Kiwi for England was Ainslee but then picked up an injury.