Australian rugby faces an uncertain future following suggestions the union will consider modifying ‘Giteau’s Law’ in an effort to open up eligibility rules and include more overseas-based players.
There’s a growing fear the Wallabies are slipping too far behind their peers following Saturday’s 57-22 humbling at the hands of New Zealand, missing out on the Bledisloe Cup for a 19th straight year.
That defeat also saw Dave Rennie’s men slip to a record-equalling low of seventh in World Rugby’s rankings, another sign Australia are starting to lag under the current structure.
Even if Giteau’s Law were to be scrapped altogether and the 60-cap minimum for overseas players reduced to zero, the Wallabies wouldn’t be expected to flip their team from top to bottom.
But with almost 100 foreign-based talents with the requisite seven seasons of Super Rugby under their belt, Mirror Sport considers what a modified Australia XV might look like if restrictions were lifted...
Full-Back: Jordan Petaia
Club: Queensland Reds
One of the major problem areas within the Wallabies squad at present, full-back presents arguably the best way to get Jordan Petaia in the side considering Australia’s strengths in his other positions.
Despite scoring two late tries in this year’s first Test against the All Blacks, the Brumbies’ Tom Banks showed in the return trip to Eden Park why he’s perhaps not the man meant for the No. 15.
Kurtley Beale (Racing 92) or Cam Clark (San Diego Legion) offer more experienced options if eligibility is opened up, but 21-year-old Reds star Petaia can be shaped for the full-back role if blooded now.
Winger: Andrew Kellaway
Club: Melbourne Rebels
Andrew Kellaway entered the recent Bledisloe Cup series without a Test start to his credit, yet he’ll come out of the series as one of the few Wallabies whose profile was actually boosted in defeat.
The Melbourne Rebel scored in his run-on debut after taking Morika Koroibete’s place while he was suspended for disciplinary reasons, following up with another brace of tries the following week.
Kellaway, 25, has shown deadly efficiency after dotting down three times in only two Test starts for his country and now looks like one of the few undroppable names on the team sheet.
Centre: Samu Kerevi
Club: Tokyo Sungoliath
It says something about Rennie’s opinion of centre Samu Kerevi that he’s one of the two players already in the Australia squad who don’t have to comply with the 60-cap quota.
The 27-year-old Tokyo Sungoliath star is in his prime years and too dangerous to overlook for international selection, and it helps that the playing standard in Japan only looks set to rise.
Centre: Hunter Paisami
Club: Queensland Reds
From a figure of Queensland Reds past to one of the present, Hunter Paisami was one of the more prominent members who recently looked confident going toe-to-toe with the All Blacks backs.
A partnership with Kerevi would require the Samoa-born star to take up the less familiar No. 12 role, but theirs would have the potential to become a devastating tandem in midfield.
Winger: Marika Koroibete
Club: Melbourne Rebels (joining Saitama Wild Knights in 2022)
The first name on the team sheet for many Wallabies fans, Koroibete has been the standout finisher for the team in recent years and an invaluable part of the current squad.
News of the Giteau Law being relaxed is positive news in terms of the Fiji-born star’s future if nothing else, given he’ll soon join Saitama Wild Knights in Japan on a four-year contract.
His 14 tries in 37 Tests is a fearsome record to lose if that switch made him ineligible, but Koroibete’s future as a Wallaby would be secured if Rugby Australia were to relax requirements.
Fly-Half: Duncan Paia'aua
Club: Toulon
Aside from full-back, fly-half is the other hugely contentious position in the team, with numerous young guns looking to earn their place among more grizzled veterans at No. 10.
Rennie has ignored Quade Cooper despite him being around the squad this summer, while Bernard Foley and Christian Leali’ifano—both currently playing in Japan—have had their chances.
Noah Lolesio looks under-ripe for the starting role after giving up interception tries in back-to-back games against New Zealand, leaving the debate open to suggestion.
Toulon-based Duncan Paia’aua is an uncapped asset in the squad, but one who’s deserving of his own chance leading Rennie’s backs in probably the least certain position among the XV.
Scrum-Half: Tate McDermott
Club: Queensland Reds
Australia fans of generations gone by were used to seeing live-wires like George Gregan and Will Genia lead from the front, and the Wallabies have a new scrum-half saviour in Tate McDermott.
The Queensland Reds star is still only 22 but took the game to New Zealand with tireless work-rate in their most recent clash, scoring to show he’s the man to lead their charge in the years to come.
Number Eight: Lopeti Timani
Club: Toulon
One of numerous France-based forwards at the Wallabies’ disposal who looks ready for a recall, back-row utility Lopeti Timani brings a frame in excess of 19 stone that can’t be overlooked—literally.
The 30-year-old was part of the La Rochelle squad that finished as runners-up to Toulouse in both the Top 14 and the European Rugby Champions Cup last season but has since joined Toulon.
One complication in Timani—who has 12 Wallabies caps—earning a recall, however, could be his recent outings for Tonga sevens during his birth nation’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualifying campaign.
Openside Flanker: Michael Hooper
Club: Waratahs
Michael Hooper’s future as Wallabies captain is a topic of fierce debate in Australian circles, with it not going unnoticed that he’s presided over a miserable spell in the country’s rugby history.
While it’s fair to doubt his leadership and composure, there are few (if any) who bring the same intensity and consistency in their play, continuing to argue his place among the world’s best opensides.
Blindside Flanker: Sean McMahon
Club: Tokyo Sungoliath
Another contender to make the commute from Tokyo alongside Sungoliath team-mate Kerevi, Sean McMahon is of that calibre that, if eligible, has to be considered for an international return.
Provided Hooper retains his place in one of the flanker roles, the former Melbourne Rebel is an easy pick to lend his tireless contributions once again, having earned 26 caps between 2014 and 2017.
A Wallabies Rookie of the Year in 2015, as well as a back-to-back Player of the Year for the Rebels (2015-16), there are reasons why McMahon, 26, was so highly rated under Michael Cheika.
Lock: Will Skelton
Club: La Rochelle
The first name on many fans’ lips when it comes to which talent they would recall from abroad in the event eligibility is opened up, 6’8” La Rochelle star Will Skelton should be welcomed back with ease.
The duo of Darcy Swain and Nick Frost give Australia very promising prospects at second row, but Skelton—who won two Premiership titles and a Champions Cup in three years at Saracens—reigns supreme.
Lock: Rory Arnold
Club: Toulouse
And Skelton wouldn’t be the only Australian lock with a chance to come in from the cold of the Top 14, with Rory Arnold also undoubtedly in the frame to keep adding to his 22 international caps.
At 31, time is running out for Rugby Australia to squeeze the most out of this 6’10” monolith, who played a key role for Toulouse as they lifted a continental and domestic double this past season.
Tighthead Prop: Allan Alaalatoa
Club: Brumbies
One or two rising prospects may have something to say about the matter, but Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa has as much reason to argue he’s the man for Australia’s tighthead role moving forward.
His 47 caps since debuting in 2016 make him one of the mainstays across the reigns of Cheika and Rennie, not to mention captaining the Brumbies to a final in the inaugural Super Rugby AU competition.
Hooker: Tolu Latu
Club: Stade Francais
One of numerous Wallabies who absconded for France following the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Stade Francais hooker Tolu Latu still has plenty to offer Australia should they permit him.
The kick-heavy approach of the modern game and the introduction of the 50-22 rule has heightened the importance of a steady set piece, one of 28-year-old Latu’s many strengths.
Loosehead Prop: Scott Sio
Club: Brumbies
There’s every reason to think Scott Sio may have figured more prominently in Australia’s plans already this year were it not for injuries, although 104-cap James Slipper is no mean alternative.
That being said, at 29 and three years Slipper’s junior, the time has come to invest in the Brumbies man as the loosehead of choice heading toward the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
