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HAVING spent the last two weeks embedded with the Socceroos in Germany and Macedonia, I can confidently say I have seen the future.
Not for the Socceroos. For the Wallabies.
If Australian rugby does not want to fall further off the pace both at home and internationally, how can the ARU continue to refuse to choose overseas based players?
GENIA TO JOIN FRENCH RUGBY AFTER WORLD CUP
I was there last year when new Wallaby coach Michael Cheika said that he only wanted players who showed their commitment to the cause and stayed in Australia.
A couple of days later, the Wallabies went out and got absolutely hammered by the England pack at Twickenham.
Ange Postecoglou celebrates after winning the Asian Cup. Source: News Corp Australia
Sad to say I can't see any evidence to suggest the same won't happen at the World Cup in seven months. If Wales turns the tables and wins their pool match against the Aussies as well — and the odds are in their favour — the Wallabies won't make the knockout stage.
Now I'm not saying a last-minute change of heart on overseas eligibility by the big blazers who run the game in Australia will make any difference to our World Cup chances — it's too late for that. But if the Wallabies do bomb out in the first round, something is going to have to be done, and fast.
Rugby is already on the nose after the Ewen McKenzie era ended in debacle; another washout in October will all but flush it down the spout.
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I never thought I'd say this, but it's time rugby took a page out of the round-ball game's book.
Two weeks ago. Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou stood in the foyer of the Hilton Hotel in Mainz, Germany and shook the hands of his players as they arrived from all over the world.
A day later, after one training session, they went out and came within 10 minutes of beating the world champions.
Had those players shown disloyalty to the cause by leaving Australia to further their careers rather than playing in the A-League?
Hardly. Quite the opposite.
Aussie forward can improve their set piece skills by playing in Europe. Source: Getty Images
Most of them have improved their skills playing in bigger leagues in Europe, the Middle East or Asia, and used that experience to strengthen the national team.
The crowds at the Asian Cup didn't seem too worried where the Aussie boys played their football. All they cared about was that they were wearing a gold shirt.
I'm not bagging Cheika's policy, or that of the ARU. It's very commendable — and very naive.
Surely the main aim of the national program should be to put the best possible team on the field. Right now, the biggest problem facing the Wallaby selectors is that they haven't got a tight five that can hold a candle to the European packs.
Why? Because the Australian forwards play in Super Rugby, a television product designed to get the ball out of set pieces as quick as possible so that the viewers don't get bored.
Our forwards don't know how to scrimmage because they don't do it enough (like European backs not knowing how to score tries, but that's another column.)
The only way Wallaby forwards can learn how play to like Europeans, is to play in Europe — and if they can do it well enough, they should play for their country.
As for the up-and-coming players who choose to stay in Super Rugby becoming disillusioned if they are passed over for the overseas-based players ... so what?
It will make them try harder. Not just to play for Australia, but to be offered an overseas contract.
It will improve their skills, their bank balances and the Wallabies.
It's what you call a win-win-win situation.
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