Should Australia stop ‘following the All Blacks’? 11 overseas stars that would actually improve Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies
A look at 11 overseas-based stars that could improve Joe Schmidt's Australia squad for the upcoming Tests against the All Blacks and beyond.
Following Argentina’s dominant victory over Australia, much has been made of Joe Schmidt’s decision to limit the number of overseas-based players in his squad.
Schmidt has opted to back local stars at the start of his tenure with only Japan-based Marika Koroibete donning the Wallabies jersey so far in 2024.
After back-to-back losses to the Springboks, Australia got back to winning ways with a narrow 20-19 victory over Los Pumas, but they were put to the sword a week later, suffering a 67-27 defeat in Sante Fe.
Following the disappointing defeat, the calls for Schmidt to look abroad to strengthen his squad have grown once again with ex-back-rower Stephen Hoiles urging the head coach to stop following what the All Blacks are doing by snubbing overseas stars.
“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,” he said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts show.
“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.”
With this in mind, we take a look at the players that Schmidt could turn to, zoning in on the players that would actually make a difference.
Samu Kerevi
Hunter Paisami, Len Ikitau and Josh Flook have all impressed when given the opportunity this year for the Wallabies but the simple fact is none are at the same level as Samu Kerevi.
The 30-year-old will bring some much-needed experience to the backline too but, besides that, when fully fit and firing, he is frankly one of the best in the business.
Kerevi spent the season in Japan’s second division helping the Urayasu D-Rocks clinch promotion and the lower level of competition perhaps factored into Schmidt’s thinking, but that never swayed the Springboks with the likes of Franco Mostert previously.
Despite the poor results under Eddie Jones last year, Kerevi still managed to be a standout and showed that he is more than just a powerhouse centre, impressing with a deft kicking game too. It’s really a straightforward selection, particularly with Japanese clubs being far more liberal with releasing players for Test duty.
Will Skelton
Not all of the suggestions on players who will improve the squad will be this obvious as it is quite evident that like Kerevi, Will Skelton would obviously improve the team.
Schmidt has admitted to having conversations with the giant lock and is bound to be called up later this year for the November internationals with the head coach explaining that the Rugby Championship is a bit more challenging with French clubs around having access to the players.
The Springboks and Argentina manage just fine in this respect, so it can be done.
Tom Staniforth
Staying in France and the second-row with Castres star Tom Staniforth. Since trading the Waratahs’ light blue for Castres’ dark, Staniforth has not only grown an impressive mullet but has become a focal point in one of the nastiest packs in French rugby.
Castres are renowned for being a nitty, gritty team and Staniforth has thrived in that environment, leading the charge for the hard-nosed outfit. He is set to miss much of the season for Castres but, with an eye to the British and Irish Lions series, he is just the kind of player that the Wallabies need. He is a tireless workhorse who topped the carry and tackle counts in the Top 14 last season, placing him in the highest echelons of the respective stats in European rugby.
Nick Frost is clearly an excellent lock and would be paired with Skelton in our view but Staniforth could provide a mighty double punch of aggression and size in the second-row for a full 80 minutes. It would also allow Lukhan Salakaia-Loto to slip into the back-row and Rob Valetini to number eight, increasing the number of lineout jumpers and giving Schmidt an experienced and powerful back-five more suited to international rugby’s requirements.
Pete Samu
Pete Samu would not be quite as much of a huge improvement on the current back-row options that are overflowing but the ex-Brumby would bring a lot of experience and competition to the squad – not to forget versatility too.
Samu is currently plying his trade with Bordeaux in France and helped the side reach the Top 14 final last season. It’s becoming increasingly obvious that Test rugby is more of any 80-minute game than it has ever been and the impact of the bench is more and more important. This is where Samu could add real value for the Wallabies with his athleticism in the final quarter.
Jordan Uelese and Folau Fainga’a
With Dave Porecki sidelined, Schmidt has turned to rookies and youngsters Josh Nasser, Matt Faessler and Billy Pollard. The trio are rather green at international level and the latter pair are the oldest at 25.
This is far from the ideal situation and has led to inconsistent performances at the set-piece which is to be expected with an inexperienced international front-row. Brandon Paenga-Amosa’s return can go a long way to easing those concerns but so could Folau Fainga’a and Jordan Uelese.
Understandably, Schmidt is looking to the future but it’s worth asking the question if Australia have effectively wasted the experience and Test caps that they have poured into Fainga’a and Uelese but not selecting them. The pair are in their late 20s and could play beyond the next World Cup too. There is certainly potential in Pollard, Nasser and Faessler but it is debatable whether they are better now than the overseas duo or whether they will become better than them.
Scott Sio
Australia were taught some hard lessons by South Africa early on in the Rugby Championship and have certainly been boosted by the return of Angus Bell, but there is still room for depth and improvement on the loosehead side of the scrum. Scott Sio is arguably still in his prime propping years at the age of 32 and at worst can only help the younger front-rowers in the squad improve.
Richie Arnold
Back into the second-row and perhaps a selection that is less exciting than the aforementioned locks but one could vastly improve the pack is Toulouse’s Richie Arnold. Having a 6′ 10″ lock is a tantalising prospect for any forwards coach even if he is 35. As mentioned several times, this Wallabies team is lacking in experience and Arnold brings plenty and is a proven winner in the toughest tournaments in club rugby. Like Staniforth, he might not be an out-and-out starter but a player who could add serious value on the bench, backing up the likes of Frost.
Matt Philip
In our view, Matt Philip is a rather underrated player in Australian circles and would add great value as a lock/blindside hybrid for the Wallabies. He is a smart lineout and maul operator and has a serious engine on him.
He is also playing in Japan so the access to him is far less complicated than it is with the European-based players.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow
Melbourne-born former All Blacks scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow qualifies for Australia again having more than served his three-year stand down period and expressed his interest in playing for the Wallabies before the World Cup last year.
The La Rochelle star is on the wrong side of 30 but he continues to perform at a world-class level for his French club both in the Top 14 and Champions Cup. Having drawn with the British and Irish Lions in 2017 with the All Blacks, he could be tempted to have another crack at the tourists and as a fierce and experienced competitor, he would add huge value.
Reece Hodge
The canon boot that Reece Hodge has automatically makes him a good selection option but his ability to play in the midfield, outside backs and fill in at fly-half in an emergency adds immense value.
The Bayonne-based back played just once under Jones before being shut out of the squad, but his size and power could be put to good use under Schmidt. Having a player that can fill so many positions and kick for goal is a huge asset to any head coach and something that the Wallabies are lacking.
On the fence selections
There are many other possible Wallabies based abroad that we have not listed including some who are yet to be capped internationally like Stade Francais’ Moses Alo-Emile and Lyon’s Jermaine Ainsley. The two props could make a difference but we are less convinced than the other prospects listed above.
The experience of Bernard Foley is another conundrum in itself as we have seen glimmers of hope in the number 10 jersey this year and the same can be said for Tom Banks as Tom Wright had flashes of brilliance outside of being rather solid at the back.
Sean McMahon is regularly brought up in this conversation but, frankly, he has not played much rugby in the past two years so it is impossible to judge. Once he has got a few games under his belt for Suntory then perhaps the debate can be reopened for him but it simply would not make any sense to throw him into the Test arena with so little mileage in the legs.
Finally, Lachie Swinton and Tolu Latu could add physicality and grunt in key positions in the pack but they attract cards when they are on the pitch and discipline is already an issue in the squad.
