News
Open door policy failing to attract players
August 11 2008
Ever since John Daniel left New Zealand for France in the 1990s, we have all wondered when or if the trend would change and northern hemisphere stars would flock south on the hunt for better rugby, or a fatter pay cheque.
Well folks, the wait is over! The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has, in principle, agreed to open its doors to all and sundry as of next season - with confirmation expected this coming week. On paper it sounds like an exciting prospect, just imagine the likes of Danny Cipriani, James Hook and Alexis Palisson strutting their stuff for the Waratahs or Brumbies.
Sounds appealing, doesn't it? Well don't get your hopes up, as sadly it sounds a lot more enticing than it will actually be. Read the small print and it all becomes painfully clear that the move is geared specifically to enhance the state of rugby in Australia, not to mention swelling the Wallaby ranks.
That's right, each franchise will be allowed two 'imports' - one recognised Test player, and one emerging youngster who can then be earmarked as a future Wallaby after a three-year qualification period. So having spent years moaning that the All Blacks are guilty of plundering the Pacific Islands for local talent the Aussies are getting ready to launch their own talent-nabbing raids.
At least the usually egotistic Aussies have had to eat a healthy portion of humble pie to reach this decision, as in doing so they are admitting their rugby is not good enough without a foreign influence. They will have you believe that they are only doing what everyone else has been doing for years, but don't be fooled, the truth is they simply can't cut the mustard without fresh bodies and ideas from overseas.
So instead of seeing players in their prime going to test their mettle in a different environment we are faced with an entirely different prospect. As by 'established Test player' the ARU actually mean a player on his way out, as what national union, in their right mind will be happy to pack an established international player off to Australia for a few years?
Therefore rather than being treated to a mouth-watering showdown between say Cipriani of the Waratahs and the Crusaders' Dan Carter, the chances are it will be a patched-up Jonny Wilkinson in his twilight years who heads south to impart his knowledge of the game on all those who care to listen - which probably won't be many down there, let me tell you.
The bookies will soon be running sweepstakes as to how long their World Cup nemesis will last before injury sends him into early retirement. We saw it when Gregor Townsend went to the Sharks in 2004, and more recently with Frederic Michalak at the same franchise: European fly-halves are not cut out for Super Rugby - neither tactically nor physically.
And this will not be the first time such a 'novel' idea has been used in Australia. In 1996 the ARU piloted an 'open-doors' policy for the Super 12, which resulted in Argentinean prop Patricio Noriega and South African flanker Tiaan Strauss going on to become Wallabies after their involvement with the Brumbies and Waratahs respectively.
On the other hand the ARU want to attract a fresh clutch of young players who can then be fast-tracked into the national set-up for future Test recognition. It seems an odd target market given the wealth of young talent that is already on show in Australia.
Perth-based Western Force are a prime example, boasting the likes David Pocock (21 years-old), Dane Haylett-Petty (19), James O'Connor (18) and Sam Wykes (21) - all of whom have made their Super Rugby bows, and most importantly all who are eligible for the Wallabies. Does it not make more sense to continue the development of such players, rather than bring in foreign talent in their place?
As far as the youth aspect of the plan goes the ARU have, in essence, got it right - if you are prepared to ignore the small matter of neglecting their own home-grown talent! The fact it will take any aspiring 'import' three years to qualify for the national side will stop those looking for a quick buck cashing in. Unless you are in it for the long run there is no point coming over is the message being sent out.
It is yet to be seen how this ruling will change the face of rugby in Australia but one thing is for certain; it will not have anywhere near as dramatic an impact on teams in the northern hemisphere as the glut of players heading for Europe has had on southern hemisphere rugby.
By Marcus Leach