Ben Alexander hopes Wallabies and Brumbies teammate Ben Mowen stays in Australia
WALLABIES prop Ben Alexander hopes Test teammate and Brumbies captain Ben Mowen isn't lost to Australian rugby over a pay dispute.
WALLABIES prop Ben Alexander hopes Test teammate and Brumbies captain Ben Mowen isn't lost to Australian rugby over a pay dispute.
Just weeks after leading the Wallabies against Argentina in Perth, Mowen is considering his future following an Australian Rugby Union decision to not offer the 28-year-old forward a contract top-up.
Looking to radically cut costs, the ARU have instituted a new policy of not automatically topping up Test players until they have played two years as a Wallaby. It has the capacity to make exceptions, however, and Israel Folau recently received a handsome top-up.
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After a long Super Rugby apprenticeship, Mowen only made his debut this season but his seniority was endorsed by ARU boss Bill Pulver, who signed off on his elevation to the Test captaincy when James Horwill was injured.
Asked if he'd like to see Mowen kept in Australian and Brumbies rugby, Alexander said: "Of course."
"He's done a great job in tandem with the coaches in turning the Brumbies around," Alexander continued.
"Benny M led us extremely well this year, he led us to within a whisker of winning the whole comp. He did a great job, but that's Benny's issues. It is not my business, and it is up to Benny to sort out what is the best decision for himself and his family. Whatever that is, we will support him."
Pressed on the importance of senior leaders in a time of flux for Australian rugby, Alexander added: "Leadership is key. Benny has done a great job on field speaking with referees, organising our lineout with the Brumbies and Wallabies. You just need all the players you can get, but again, I don't make those decisions who they offer contracts to."
With Jake White leaving Canberra, Alexander was asked if senior players would be quizzed for their input on a new coach.
"No and I shouldn't expect we would be," he replied.
"We are the players, not the bosses. We will leave it up to the board ... that's their decision, we will back whoever they pick."