Ex-Wallabies call on Joe Schmidt to end ‘massive argument’ and follow Springboks and Argentina overseas policies
Former Wallabies have urged Joe Schmidt and Rugby Australia to follow the Springboks and Argentina's lead.
Following the 67-27 defeat to Argentina, former Wallabies Stephen Hoiles, Nick Phipps and Morgan Turinui have urged Joe Schmidt and Rugby Australia to select more overseas-based players.
Winger Marika Koroibete was the only overseas-based player included in the matchday 23 for the round four Rugby Championship clash in Sante Fe.
On the opposing side of the pitch, the entire Los Pumas starting XV ply their trade in Europe and Japan with lock Franco Molina the only exception though he has recently signed with Exeter Chiefs.
While Rugby Australia are reportedly happy for Schmidt to select more overseas-based players, the head coach has been reluctant, rather backing the local talent and testing his depth.
Stop following the All Blacks
This has led to 16 Test debuts this year as Schmidt comes to grips with the talent pool that he is working with. However, after the record defeat to Argentina, the former Wallabies have called for change and for the head coach to look abroad to strengthen his squad.
They have urged Schmidt to stop following the All Blacks’ lead of not selecting overseas-based players and rather do like the Springboks and Argentina.
“They’re the best 23 players in Argentina. Have we got the best 23 players in Australian rugby at the moment or are some of them still based overseas?” Hoiles said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts show.
“There’s a massive argument, it’s a can of worms but we’ve got to start considering it.
“We’ve always been about protecting Super Rugby because that’s our product but that product isn’t working for us at the moment but we’re not picking from overseas.
“I’m not saying one player in particular would make a huge difference, but Will Skelton if you got him – South Africa do it, Argentina do it.
“We’re doing what New Zealand does. We’re not New Zealand, just because the All Blacks keep the All Blacks in New Zealand, we shouldn’t have to do what they do.”
Not just Will Skelton
Ex-Australia scrum-half agreed with Hoiles and threw in a few more names that he believed might not be starters but would add necessary depth and competition for places.
“It’s not just like the Will Skeltons, it’s the Matt Phillips – he could be in the 23 any week but you’re only allowed to pick two or three. There’s Matt Philip, Richie Arnold, Rory Arnold,” Phipps said.
“I wouldn’t say they’re better than Carlo Tizzano and Harry Wilson, but the competition there, you’ve got four strong options to pick from. If one’s out of form, you’ve got three [more] strong options.”
Despite not seeing some of the overseas-based Wallabies in action recently, Hoiles believed that some were surely good enough to feature in Schmidt’s team. The ex-back-rower did however list Sean McMahon who has spent the better part of two years on the sidelines for Suntory through injury.
“I’ll even go as far as – and hand on heart – I haven’t seen this guy play for five years, but I reckon Liam Gill and Sean McMahon are still good enough to play for the Wallabies,” he said.
“Just because they’re in Japan they’re sight unseen. They’re really good examples and Tizzano’s been really good but when you lose Fraser McReight; where’s our next three or four?
Hoiles added: “Like Kwagga Smith is playing in Japan, McMahon’s playing at the same level as him but we don’t even get a chance to look at McMahon.”
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“We have got to work it”
Meanwhile, Turinui believes that Argentina is perfect example for Australia to follow as they are in a similar situation as the Wallabies.
He noted that opening the door to select more overseas-based players would be a ‘can of worms’ but added that Australia are ‘going to have to open up and eat at some stage’.
“We have got to work it out because we’ve been told that the reason we don’t pick from overseas is because we want to protect the quality and talent coming to Super Rugby,” he said.
“We are also told a lot that it doesn’t work. We’ve been told that bringing guys in doesn’t work because of cohesion and this and that. Well, Argentina are actually really good example we compare ourselves to because they’ve got not much in terms of their national competition.
“They have local rugby, all of their best players are overseas, all of their best players come from many different clubs and come together and can put 60-odd points on the Wallabies. South Africa have a lot of guys that have come through that Cape Town programme early, it’s not just about that anymore and they still continue to perform.
“There are more teams and countries that are doing it and doing it in a way that we think wouldn’t work for us. Tell you what the line in the sand moment is, it’s not with the Wallabies team, it’s what we’re going to do about how we pick our players, how we develop, select and identify but also where we pick our players.”
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“We are not exploiting it”
World Rugby regulation nine means that it is easier for teams to get access to players, a point that Phipps raised.
“We’ve probably never been in a game globally like we are now that allows the Test players to be available, no questions asked. World Rugby’s clause is set up to help Argentina and South Africa,” he said.
Hoiles concluded: “We are not exploiting it, we are helping everybody else just not ourselves.”
READ MORE: Opinion: Joe Schmidt’s lack of overseas-based Wallabies will prove costly
