Former Wallabies open overseas 'can of worms'

09/10/2024 04:02 AM

In the wake of the record defeat in Argentina, former Wallabies Stephen Hoiles, Nick Phipps and Morgan Turinui have urged Australia to open the can of worms that is their overseas-based player policy to bolster Joe Schmidt’s squad.

The Wallabies started the month by snapping their eight-game losing streak in the Rugby Championship with a last-gasp victory over Argentina in Santa Fe, but were brought crashing down to earth a week later, suffering a record 67-27 loss to Los Pumas.

It is Australia’s biggest-ever defeat and the most points they have conceded in a Test match, but making it worse is that the Wallabies led 20-3 after the opening 29 minutes of the match.

The result has seen Rugby Australia’s overseas-based player policy once again brought into the spotlight. Japan-based wing Marika Koroibete is the only overseas-based currently in the squad.

Speakin on the Between Two Posts podcast former Wallabies Hoiles, Phipps and Turinui all urged Schmidt and RA to have a rethink over the restrictions.

"They're the best 23 players in Argentina," Hoiles said. "Have we got the best 23 players in Australian rugby at the moment, or are some of them still based overseas? 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. That product isn't working for us at the moment and 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 rugby, we shouldn't have to do what they do."

Former Wallaby Phipps listed Japan-based lock Matt Philip and France-based Richie and Rory Arnold as other options to consider

“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."

Meanwhile, Turinui added that the Springboks’ and Argentina’s success makes it inevitable that Australia will have to confront the issue.

"It's a can of worms that we're going to have to open up and eat at some stage," Turinui said.

"We've been told that bringing guys in doesn't work because of cohesion and this and that. Well, Argentina are actually a really good example of someone we compare ourselves to, because they've not got much in terms of their national comp. They have local rugby but 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."

Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

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