Scrapping Giteau Law would kill Australian rugby, says Dave Rennie

Much as Wallabies coach Dave Rennie would love to be able to overturn the Giteau Law, he realises it would be fatal to rugby in this country.

New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie. Picture: Getty Images

Much as Wallabies coach Dave Rennie would love to be able to overturn the Giteau Law to be able to select such overseas-based players as Rory Arnold and Harry Hockings, he realises it would be fatal to the game of rugby in this country.

Rennie, in his first one-on-one interview since becoming Australian coach, said that just because South Africa had selected a large proportion of their squad from abroad and then won the World Cup, Australia should not be deluded into thinking that was the template for success.

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“The Giteau Law was put in there to do something not too different to what South Africa did at the World Cup,” said Rennie, by phone from Auckland, where he is in the 12th day of a fortnight of isolation since returning to his native New Zealand after winding up as coach of the Glasgow ­Warriors.

“They picked an enormous amount of their squad who weren’t playing in Africa and they won a World Cup and everyone now thinks that is the way to go. But I think it will kill the game in Australia if we pick lots of players from overseas.”

Rennie is adamant that players need to return to Australia if they want to be seriously considered for the Test side.

“I’m not saying we wouldn’t want to pick the odd player from overseas, based on need perhaps, but it is a slippery slope is all I’m saying and we have to have further discussions around it.”

Rugby Australia’s director of rugby Scott Johnson admitted last week that the Giteau Law, which allows players who have represented Australia in at least 60 Tests to be chosen from abroad for the Wallabies, was under review.

If there is one area where a desperate shortage could force a change, it is in the second row following the post-World Cup loss of Arnold and then the more recent decision by Reds locks Izack Rodda and Hockings to sign for overseas clubs rather than accept the 60 per cent pay cut in Australia. On top of that, the Brumbies on Sunday released 2017 Wallabies tourist Blake Enever on compassionate family grounds.

“It’s not ideal,” Rennie said. “Obviously we’ve got guys, some tall timber who left at the end of the World Cup which is disappointing. Guys like Rory Arnold leaving … a guy who is at the age when he is ready to fire, an incredible athlete, got a bit of mongrel in him. It’s hugely disappointing losing an athlete like him. So, too, Hockings. I think that kid is going to be outstanding.

“Our job is to try and create an environment that they want to come back to. We haven’t given up hope yet. Meanwhile, it’s just an opportunity for others. Guys like Rob Simmons. I know he has been working really hard. He wasn’t in that initial PONI (Players of National Interest) group either, based on form, but we have been really impressed with his attitude to try and fight his way back into the reckoning. Obviously, we can use Lukhan Salakaia-Loto as a second-rower and there are still some good boys around there. We have done a lot of work on that.”

While reluctant to discuss any possible additions to the Wallabies squad when there may be more redundancies at RA, Rennie did give a ringing endorsement of Dan McKellar, who is in line for a Steve Larkham-like role as head coach of the Brumbies while acting as Australian assistant coach.

“All I will say around Dan is that I see him as an outstanding coach, he has done a great job with the Brumbies,” Rennie said. “I see him as a potential head coach of Australia and I think it is important that the next head coach of Australia is Australian.”

Rennie has had a long period of observing Australian rugby from afar and he admits he is disturbed by the prevalent trait of bringing about change by press leaks.

“I reckon it’s cancerous. That’s my view from afar. There needs to be a lot more honest, open dialogue and face-to-face (talking) rather than leaking to the media,” he said.

In a normal world, Rennie would have made his debut as an international coach on Saturday week against Ireland in Brisbane but those plans were long ago deferred because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now he is unsure what international matches Australia will play this year.

“There have certainly been discussions about a possible Rugby Championship and so on but it is difficult to see whether teams will be able to travel. More than likely it will be us and the All Blacks able to play. If anything happens beyond that, it will be a bonus.”

Playing four Tests against the team that, as he put it, is regularly the best in the world if just not at the last World Cup, is a daunting exercise.

“In a four-Test series you have to beat New Zealand three times, so it is challenging. But we should be excited by the opportunity to play against them as often as possible.”

As for who would captain the Australian side, Rennie has given that little thought.

“It’s not that I am not happy with Hoops (current captain Michael Hooper) but it’s not something we have talked about. We are talking about earning the right to play.”

While he spoke about “brutality” in defence and “speed of the ball” in attack, it was when he spoke of his rugby philosophy that he demonstrated the width that separates him from his predecessor, Michael Cheika, a coach who virtually banned kicking in general play.

“There has to be a lot of nous in amongst that, the smart kicking options that are going to shape defences and create opportunity to apply pressure,” Rennie said.