The Wallabies thrashing at the hands of the All Blacks at the weekend has prompted former Australia international Matt Giteau to back a call to abandon the eligibility rule for overseas players, which is named after him.
Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos has said the Gitteau rule, which excludes foreign-based players from Wallabies selection if they have less than 60 test caps, might be scrapped before the end of the season.
Former Wallabies international Matt Giteau is urging Rugby Australia to pick players from around the globe. Photo: Photosport
It was dubbed the 'Giteau Law' after Rugby Australia eased the ban on overseas-based players so they could select Giteau for the 2015 World Cup .
However in the wake of Saturday's record 57-22 defeat to the All Blacks, Giteau says the rule needs to be done away with so they can be competitive.
"At the highest level, like the Wallabies, ultimately, it's about winning. Pick your best team and be as strong as you can. I'm all for any choice the people higher up make if it's going to benefit the Wallabies and Australian rugby."
RA installed its selection curbs as a means to retain talent in domestic rugby but the Giteau Law has failed to prevent a host of top Australian players heading overseas to take up more lucrative contracts.
RA watered down the Giteau Law for Australia coach Dave Rennie when he took over last year, allowing him to pick any two overseas-based players he wanted.
Once ranked second in the world after the All Blacks, the Wallabies have slumped to seventh since reaching the final of the 2015 World Cup.
Their back-to-back defeats at Eden Park over the past two weeks ensured New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup, the annual trophy contested by the trans-Tasman nations, for a 19th successive year.
Former Wallabies assistant coach Laurie Fisher said Australia could no longer operate without full access to their best talent.
"Need a full deck to work out our best hand. Build base and roof simultaneously," the ACT Brumbies forwards coach tweeted.
-Reuters
