Wallabies take top spots in rugby’s Rich List with no All Blacks in the top 10
THE All Blacks have completely dominated the Wallabies over the past 16-years, but they’ve been shown up in one key criteria.
The All Blacks have long held the wood over the Wallabies but finally, the Australians have some bragging rights.
It’s been 16 long years since Australia have held the Bledisloe Cup but the Aussies are cashing in on international rugby’s rich list, according to Wales Online.
Wallabies fullback Israel Folau is in the penthouse of world rugby, pulling in a princely $2m per season.
Australian captain Michael Hooper also holds the wood over his trans-Tasman rivals as he pulls in $1m per year in 10th.
In fact, the top All Blacks are skipper Kieren Read, fly-half Beauden Barrett and code hopper Sonny Bill Williams, who each pull in $905,000 a year.
In an interesting twist, former rivals New Zealand half Dan Carter and Australian Matt Giteau still rake in around $1.9m a season each to sit in second and third respectively on the list.
Former Kiwis are also still pulling in the big bucks with Charles Piutau ($1.74m), Aaron Cruden ($1.18m), Steven Luatua ($1.13m) and Ma’a Nonu ($1.04) all clearing a million dollars.
While the Wallabies will be without money man Folau for this weekend’s Test at Eden Park, the side are eager to seek redemption after the 38-13 loss in the Bledisloe opener.
Michael Cheika’s men have retreated to Waiheke Island, 20 kilometres (12 miles) off the Auckland coast, to plot vengeance at a venue the Australians haven’t won at since 1986.
Prop Adam Coleman said the Australians were relishing the opportunity to challenge the Auckland venue’s intimidating history.
“We laugh about it but we’re here to do a job,” he said.
“The boys are hurting at the moment and to come here and play at Eden Park is something we’re looking forward to.
“We get to turn around a performance that we’re not really proud of to be honest. I think we let down people on our home turf and it hurts.”
THE RUGBY RICH LIST
1) Israel Folau (Waratahs & Australia) $2.2m
2) Dan Carter (Kobe Steel) $2.13m
3) Matt Giteau (Suntory) $2.13m
4) Charles Piutau (Bristol) $1.92m
5) Aaron Cruden (Montpelier) $1.31m
6) Steven Luatua (Bristol) $1.25m
7) Dan Biggar (Northampton & Wales)
8) Ma’a Nonu (Toulon) $1.16m
9) Nicholas Sanchez (Stade Francais & Argentina) $1.12m
10) Michael Hooper (Waratahs & Australia) $1.1m
15th) Kieran Read, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams (NZ) $1m.
— with AFP and New Zealand Herald