Rennie makes a move

Super idea to keep players

INCOMING Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has floated a loosening of the “Giteau Law” to address the drain of players to overseas but stressed throwing open the gates is not the solution.

Former Glasgow and Chiefs coach Rennie is quarantining in his native New Zealand and isn’t likely to arrive in Australia until after Super Rugby AU’s July 3 start.

He said following South Africa’s lead and filling a side with overseas talent before the World Cup would only damage the domestic product by enabling the country’s best players to “chase the big money knowing they can still play for their country”.

Instead, Rennie entertained the prospect of including Japanese teams alongside Australian and New Zealand outfits in a new-look Super Rugby competition – from which any Australian player could play and still be picked for the Wallabies – next year. This would allow Wallabies selectors to “compare apples with apples”.

“If we had a Wallaby playing for the (Auckland-based) Blues, for example, we get to see him playing against the best Aussies,” Rennie said.

“From a selection point of view that makes sense ... I’m not a big fan of trying to pluck guys out of France.”

Rennie was saddened by the recent exit of Queensland Reds and Wallabies lock Izack Rodda, who took a one-year deal to play in France and joined a mounting list of talent ineligible to play Tests.

But Rennie has remained close to Rodda and stresses that communication is key to coaxing him, and others, back.

“There’s so many good Australian players playing overseas, young men in their prime but not in our country,” he said.

“We’ve made a lot of phone calls ... shown a bit of love and can hopefully lure them back over time.”

Once he’s settled in Sydney, Rennie hopes to meet former Australia coach Michael Cheika to pick his brain over a coffee.

Volunteering to take a pay cut he assumed would be coming anyway, given RA’s widespread stand-downs and costcutting measures, Rennie was hesitant to trumpet any new additions to his coaching staff.

But he did sing the praises of Brumbies coach Dan McKellar, who has been linked to a joint role with the Super Rugby club and the Wallabies later this year.

Rennie said RA director of rugby Scott Johnson would retain a voice at the selection table.