Tensions between All Blacks coach Ian Foster and his successor Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson are growing after a clash of ideas surrounding national eligibility.
Robertson, who was controversially appointed ahead of this year’s World Cup, set the cat amongst the pigeons earlier in the week when he said he was open to picking players from overseas.
“We will have conversations, you have got to be a step ahead,” Robertson said.
“If you are a step behind and then changing rules, and that is when you get caught.
“I will present the board where I think the game is heading, potentially, but a lot of that will be happening when I get in the role.”
Newly announced All Blacks Coach Scott Robertson says he is open to picking players from overseas. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
South Africa opened the floodgates ahead of the 2019 World Cup and went on to claim a remarkable third Webb Ellis Cup.
Trans-Tasman neighbours Australia let the genie out of the bottle ahead of the 2015 campaign, as Michael Cheika convinced his bosses the necessity of having Toulon-based Matt Giteau play for the Wallabies. His teammate Drew Mitchell also was chosen.
After carving up European rugby, both players excelled during the World Cup as the Wallabies went on to make the final.
Since then Rugby Australia has regularly tweaked their eligibility protocols and is thought Eddie Jones will have carte blanche for this year’s World Cup before the governing body attempts to drastically put the cap back on the bottle ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour and home World Cup.
RA has had to consider to key factors.
First, opening up the borders would potentially see more players leave its Super Rugby competition.
Second, the movement of players elsewhere could potentially affect cohesion levels.
Outgoing All Blacks head coach Ian Foster says New Zealand Rugby should not pick players from overseas. Photo Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Speaking on radio on Saturday morning, Foster said in an ideal world the All Blacks would simply pick the best players but added it would undermine New Zealand Rugby.
“I think from an All Blacks’ perspective, if I just looked at it purely selfishly … it makes some academic sense,” Foster told Newstalk ZB.
“But I think from a NZ Rugby … as a whole, I think it’d be a disaster.
“We’ve got a Super Rugby competition which has fed our national team for many many years. I don’t think the Super Rugby competition is perfect at the moment, it needs a bit of work, but it is the development path, it’s where we actually develop our players, where we’re able to work with the franchises in that space, and I think we need to make sure we’re selling that product to the public and we’re growing our young players with our older players around them.
“The minute we open up the door, we know the worldwide demand for our players is huge and I think we’ll lose a lot of our top players and I think that’ll dilute our domestic competition too much,” Foster added.
“They need to stay here and play here.”
Richie Mo’unga’s departure to Japan has once again opened up discussions over All Blacks eligibility. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
Robertson faces a difficult rebuilding task in his first year in charge, with his key playmaker at the Crusaders, Richie Mo’unga, to head to Japan for three years.
Two-time World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett will also head to Japan following the World Cup in France.
While livewire utility back Damian McKenzie is uncontracted.
It could mean Robertson faces the uncomfortable task of having to blood a relatively inexperienced playmaker in 2024.
The clash of ideas comes after Foster strongly recommended NZR don’t appoint a new coach until after the World Cup to ensure there are no distractions. Instead, Robertson was appointed whilst Foster was overseas.
BlouBul
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing:
Loosey
Roar Rookie
Assuming what? The AFL has more players and more spectators than Union in Australia. It is a far more successful code.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
Yes but that doesn’t alter the fact that NRL drains away players that might end up playing Union at a national level. League is international, technically. You think I’m talking up league, I’m not. Just looking at the current situation.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well it’s happening now Jacko, & possibly more so now in Australia where more players now have been through our systems that are in place in Aotearoa. Our approach comes through both the Public & private schools in Aotearoa, where as in Australia it’s virtually & mostly all from the private schools. Not enough is being done in Australia to promote & seekout the known talent there is in the public schools
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yes only in Australia Loosey, as there is MORE nations that play rugby than what rugby’s break away game, league, & it fellow club game AFL will ever have! Fact. Now try assuming again!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hahaha Loosey! We are discussing an international game against a club game?? Ffs & one those club games is only played on the east coast of Oz, at the top level, as it’s hopeless at international level! Honestly
The World in Union
Roar Rookie
BlouBul, if you're in Aus then you need to change your name to BlueBull :silly: I presume you still support the Bulls. May as well pick a SRP team to support as well - Drua would be a good option! The only reason Rob Simmons is the most carded player in the Premiership is because Adam Coleman has been injured or suspended for so many weeks, otherwise Simmons would be the second most carded player :laughing:
BlouBul
Roar Rookie
The World in Union - My comment was at Jacko querying why a South Africa would watch SRP. I'm in Australia so I watch it, not because I support one of the teams but I support RUGBY UNION. I also watch all the other mens RU games that are available on STAN throughout the week. Incidentally Rob Simmons is the most carded player in the Premiership.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I am trying to put an article together on that but yes SR has fallen behind drastically from 25 years ago. Don't need to pay the players or coaches more. The fans are doing nothing else, sponsers pay more the more they are seen. Final the TV companies are paying someone to fill those times lots when it's not on.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I agree OB, I have stated previously that he should have said no comment at this time. :thumbup:
The World in Union
Roar Rookie
"Why don’t Aussie sides go more aggressively with some foreign recruitment" JN, it simply comes down to money. I agree that we should be targeting "cheap" South African tight 5 players but at the moment we seem to source enough of those players from NZ and they probably aren't expensive either. These fringe SRP/URC players from NZ/SA definitely add value to our teams but realistically they probably allow us to lose against NZ teams by 10 instead of 20. To go head to head with NZ teams, which is really what is needed to revatalise SRP, we need more international quality players which of course is a massive money challenge. McLennan has stated several times that we need to get Wallabies back from overseas to play in SRP - I wait with baited breath to see how we are going to do that.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
They will quickly find out that the NZ economy and market size won’t sustain much for very long or very successfully. RA dont do "time" they do instant. An NRC , given 5 years and beyond is what RA needs yet they keep dropping the concept. You can come up with all the ideas and all the solutions in the world but if RA dont do whats required you are wasting time even thinking about it. Why hasnt Aus SR signed any of the 20 plus top players leaving NZ post WC? Surely if NZ players is the answer and the Aus economy is so grand then they could afford to sign Whitelock, Frizzel, Mounga, BB, Nankerville etc etc etc. Its not that RA wants NZ players its that they want them free. Tell im he's dreaming!
The World in Union
Roar Rookie
Fair enough Jacko, we all do what fits in with our lifestyle. Luckily I am able to get up in the morning and watch European rugby "live" just by making sure I don't see results beforehand - no Internet browsing or news watching until I've watched my rugby. No more staying awake in the ungodly hours of the morning for me. OK, there may be exceptions - if the Wallabies were playing in the world cup final at 2am then I may have to watch live! Sadly, I think my sleep is safe :laughing:
The World in Union
Roar Rookie
Brendan, I think the problem we have nowadays is that SRP is not popular enough so we can't get a broadcaster to pay for more than the current 14 rounds plus finals. I'm sure international broadcast rights have diminished significantly in value too. There's only one answer - get SRP back to elite status, although we're now up against the elite European comps that weren't so flash 25 years ago.
The World in Union
Roar Rookie
"Wouldnt that also effectively reduce the number of players the Wallabies have to choose from?" Yes Jacko, I agree with much of what you're saying about Aus demands being ridiculous. I'd suggest however that this is meant to be a short term fix for long term gain. Unfortunately the short term timeframe could be way too long and the long term may never come - fingers crossed for both Aus and NZ that this doesn't happen even though this is what many fans (like you) expect to happen! For what it's worth, here's my view of the long term vision. Victoria and WA grow their grassroots so that the Rebels and Force can mainly pick homegrown players (there's also much work required for NSW and Qld to grow grassroots). Over time, Aussie teams strengthen and Super Rugby gains again in popularity, leading to much larger broadcast deals which also benefit NZ. Sounds great, doesn't it? :stoked:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
World Im in the SH timezone so most of the rugby I want to watch is in my time zone too. Thats reality.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I agree that Aus should recruit from whereever they can. TBH they get a few Kiwis now so going for SA players is a no brainer really. The issue in SR is that NZR makes many suggestions that would majorly benifit the comp but RA refused to entertain the idea but stands and demands NZR do something. I have no idea what NZR can do without it being a complete overhaul and that would need RA to be in on it.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Whats Englands selection policy Brendan? Do they select from all around the world?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Paulo do you really believe that if SR became an open selection area for NZ that the current rules would still be applied? Just look at todays headlines in another ROAR article. You cant apply current rules anywhere in the world in any comp should things change. That is the whole concept of change. Rules that prevent things would be tossed aside as soon as the ABs and Wallabies selection policies changed.
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
I do think Tim, that Razor saying it's a suggestion at this stage and that both he and Fozzie were asked the same question, are irrelevant to what's happening. The fact that Razor chose to respond, is what's relevant. What would happen if the Saders chose his replacement now and that person, starts going around answering questions about the team's current woes while Razor, is still in the hot seat??