Not impressed: O'Neill
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ARU boss John O'Neill has responded to NZ coach Steve Hansen's claims that Australia are stealing players as being "insulting and ill-informed".
Hansen made the assertion after the world champions' 18-18 draw with the Wallabies on Saturday in which New Zealand-born centre Mike Harris kicked five penalties for Australia.
The All Blacks coach says Australia should concentrate on developing their own talent, rather than trying to build depth by "pinching" New Zealand players.
O'Neill said New Zealand should put their own house in order before criticising Australia, adding "the comments from the All Blacks coach are insulting, ill-informed.
"I would not even want to guess how many players born in the South Pacific islands have worn the All Blacks jersey," he said.
Comments
notajokebok says...
As my South African friend said that migrated here.
Australia really is gods country.
Maybe that is why so many players migrate to OZ
Posted 08:40 08th November 2012
wolfgang says...
Oh wat a boring discussing...pls kiwis fans go and watch other sports....theres more popular sport than rugby...and if u come to australia and other parts of the.world...they dont know WTF is rugby,so pls just be glad that some small numbers of guys here in australia want to take up this sport...ok kiwi bro lol wat a stupid accent lol....go da wallabies
Posted 12:29 05th November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Depends, does TKB have a brother?
Posted 22:05 26th October 2012
APV1 says...
@ ruckingkiwi - "... born in Australia but was raised a Kiwi..." Is that a bit like Romulus and Remus..?
Posted 12:16 26th October 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Why did I see Reds selectors doing the rounds at club rugby in Auckland this year, looking for the next Mike Harris?
The question that needs to be asked is why Australian rugby didn't kick-on after hosting the 2003 world cup, rugby popularity was unprecedented at this point.
There aren't really any excuses for John. He pushed for 5 super rugby teams and cannot fill them. He cancelled the domestic competition his predecessor started and has focussed the ARUs minimal resources on buying league talent or shopping abroad for coaches and players.
No real case to base his argument if you ask me, although it's great for guys in NZ who miss out to pick up contracts in Australia but it must be painful for Australian players and Australian fans seeing their teams taken over by foreigners solely there to earn some cash. Especially Kiwis. I know I would struggle to support NZ if it had as many foreigners as Australia does.
3rd string Trinats? Name the other 2 squads of 22 players who are missing? After all the excuses Australia have only had 12 debutants this year over 11 tests, NZ had 7 (10 tests) and South Africa 10 (9), so all teams have played new guys.
The NZ born Samoan players consider themselves Samoan because they have Samoan blood via their ancestors who emmigrated to NZ post 1960. Not to be mistaken with guys like Quade, Pocock, Genia, Ioane, Samo etc who don't have any Australian ancestry, do they?
In total there have been around 50 non-NZ born players who have represented the All Blacks and there are very few cases of guys who have been picked up after their teens, Sivivatu, Rawlinson, Devine.
Interestingly, Tawera Kerr-Barlow who is likely to be picked for the northern tour was born in Australia but was raised a Kiwi, he's already turned down a Wallaby jersey for a chance to play for NZ. Cannot blame him.
Posted 01:35 26th October 2012
Ramage says...
Nobody should be surprised that once again Trinuts forgets what he has said i n earlie posts and how he has used the word hypocrite on many occasions as pointed out. Once again his posts pay scant regard to the truth or facts but then we are used to his rather disjointed views which swing from one side of the pendulum to the other.
However December is looming closer and I cant wait to meet the poor chap and make sure that he is covered in spit.
Posted 15:16 25th October 2012
Trader2 says...
Trinats
You mean proud Australians like Cooper with his ¿toxic Wallabies¿ comment?
Seriously I would say that the born and bred in NZ Samoans are rightly proud of their Samoan heritage, not just those who play for the Samoan team. Because they are proud Samoans it does not follow that they are not proud Kiwi¿s, the relationship in New Zealand is far more entwined than it is here with Australia¿s Island community. That¿s what I have experienced anyway through my wife¿s cousin who is married to a NZ born and educated Samoan guy. He works in Geneva so I am not sure if he is aware of this debate, but if I get his thoughts on it I will let you know. I would think that any one born in Australia to Kiwi parents and schooled here would consider themselves Australian and of course would want to play for Oz.
Now as far as my kids are concerned, well both are Dual Citizens and with my daughter it is a no brainer she would play for the AB¿s if selected, has been a fan since a little girl and has been in love with DC for the last 10 years. My son says that he would not hesitate to take up the AB offer to play for them, as he puts it why would anyone given the choice play for someone who is and basically always has been second best. That¿s my boy.
Anyway this has nothing to do with ¿poaching¿ players, the point is NZ don¿t and never have and John O¿Neill knows this very well. What Australia is doing is recruiting overseas players to prop up the Super Franchises and cruelling the development of local talent.
Posted 13:56 25th October 2012
APV1 says...
@ TheTruthHurts - I think the other 1 1/2 million are "on the books" but haven't arrived from NZ yet.
;-)
Posted 11:43 25th October 2012
jonesy2 says...
haha while you all argue about absolutely nothing england (@hybrid187 -- a country of 53mil) add even more islanders and other foreigners to their squad
Posted 11:03 25th October 2012
7ton says...
tri-nats2
Many times in the not too distant past you have wrongly pointed the finger at NZ for poaching and in the previous article you have the gall to use the word hypocrite.
So are you being hypocritical or have you had a change of opinion?
Funny you're not going on about Deans anymore so perhaps you've had a change of opinion there as well
Posted 10:47 25th October 2012
new_j4a says...
@kinsman who says.. "as at 2011, Australia have 39,380 senior male players. New Zealand has 27,374." That stat may be accurate but you are comparing apples and oranges. While a small but significant percentage of the 39,380 are Kiwis and Saffas, the vast majority are....well Australians and some were raised in Queensland. You are surely not suggesting that we count those one for one are you?
Posted 07:26 25th October 2012
hobbithunter says...
Ahhhhh. The wonderful sound of kiwis bleating. Always happens when they feel vulnerable. Must be something about coming from a small island in the middle of nowhere that's known around the world for only one thing.
Posted 02:27 25th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
Trader2:
Again, Your kids, who would they play for ? AUS or NZ ???
Point being, it's a very grey area. A lot of Samoan players in RWC (born and brought up in NZ) consider themselves very much Samoan. Same as players in Australian squad, they may have been born elsewhere, but are very proud to be Australian now.
Then you have a lot of "kiwis", born and brought up in Australia consider themselves kiwis (through their parents). But given the chance they would still play for Australia.
Posted 22:13 24th October 2012
sukkadoits says...
John O'Neill should try and 'guess' how many NZ born and developed players represent the Island nations to balance his weak and old argument.
Posted 21:43 24th October 2012
kinsman says...
@TheTruthHurts, as at 2011, Australia have 39,380 senior male players. New Zealand has 27,374.
Rugby is the 4th winter sport in OZ =FACT! And NO it does NOT count!
@Trinats, you should do well, you have almost 50% more players to select from.
Posted 20:17 24th October 2012
Trader2 says...
And Trinats
Now get realistic it says a lot about Australian Rugby that you can crow about drawing with the AB's at fortress Suncorp, I know who has had the most fun over the last 10 years. What is it now 10 from 36 this millenium. Perhaps you should think about playing your 'C' team all the time. Now what about your coach, you have gone a bit quiet on the old Dingo, still think you can find someone better?
Posted 14:11 24th October 2012
Trader2 says...
Trinats
In the context of the "poaching' argument, what's your point?
Posted 13:40 24th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
hybrid187:
Bottom line, A country with far less professional players, no national comp and a support base not even half of yours does pretty well.
"a bit embarrassed" I sould think that you would be heaps embarrased, held by a make shift Wallaby team and prevented you from getting a world record. ah well might try again in another 20-30 years, like your world cup run.
Posted 12:32 24th October 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
@hybrid187 (24 million???? wtf, where did you get that stat, try 22.5 million) maybe you wanted to boost it to make your argument look better pffffttttttt.....
Rugby is the 4th winter sport in OZ =FACT! And YES it does count!
Posted 11:53 24th October 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
O'Neill is a stirrer always has been always will be, don't even worry about his comments, it's his parting shot now he has left the ARU... Hansen should just enjoy the fact the AB's are so successful and not get too worked up drawing a match... i really look forward to reading what he has to say when they finally actually lose a game, he might explode lol.....
Posted 11:06 24th October 2012