Wallabies ready for a fight with NZ over Crusader

Peter Samu is set to be one of the new faces in the Wallabies squad for next month’s three-Test rugby series against Ireland.

Peter Samu packs down on the side of the Crusaders’ scrum against the Waratahs.

Rebels rookie Jack Maddocks will be a bolter in the Wallabies’ squad to take on Ireland and Crusaders backrower Pete Samu is also set to be included after being unveiled as a new Brumbies signing.

But whether Samu gets a clean passage to join the Wallabies in Brisbane next week remains to be seen, with uncertainty about New Zealand Rugby’s obligations to release Samu under World Rugby’s regulation 9.

The Brumbies revealed yesterday that Melbourne-born Samu had signed for 2019 and 2020, and in doing so became eligible for the Wallabies.

RA plan to rely on Regulation 9 to select Samu; the World Rugby rule that forces the release of players for Test duties.

But Samu’s case could be more complex and lead to a standoff between RA and NZR. The 26-year-old is believed to also be eligible for New Zealand, via residency.

NZR released Brad Shields under similar circumstances to play for England in June but they argued Regulation 9 didn’t apply to Shields “per se” because he had dual eligibility.

In a sub-clause addressing dual eligibility, Regulation 9.38 says if a union like the NZR contracts a player and gets them to sign a document declaring themselves available for New Zealand, they can subsequently deny another nation’s regulation 9 request.

Samu is not on the All Blacks radar but NZR may play hardball to stop the Wallabies from fielding him in the Bledisloe Cup.

NZR and Samu’s agent did not respond to inquiries yesterday.

There would be no winners in a legal fight over Samu playing for Australia — which is he clearly keen to do given his move to the Brumbies — but the relationship between New Zealand and Australia has been highly antagonistic in recent years.

Rebels and Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese said it would be “great for him (Samu) to come”.

“I know he’s a Melbourne boy, some of my cousins played with him out at the Rams, so I think it’s great he wants to come back and wants to represent his country,” Uelese said.

Initially Samu wasn’t in Wallabies coach Michael Cheika’s plans for June plans but with injuries to Jack Dempsey and Ned Hanigan, and Sean McMahon absent, depth at blindside flanker depth has become shallow. Abrasive Rebels loose forward Angus Cottrell is another possible call-up

Cheika will officially name his 33-man squad tonight.

After blooding 26 players since the 2015 World Cup, it’s believed there won’t be many more uncapped players in the June squad.

Maddocks, the 20-year-old Rebels utility, is expected to be one of them after a superb season on the wing for Melbourne.

The skilful youngster went on the Spring Tour as an apprentice last year and he has scored eight tries this year so far.

Maddocks’ consistency has him placed just above Brumbies flyer Tom Banks but the latter’s form in the past few weeks has him right in the frame.

Waratahs big man Taqele Naiyaravoro looks out of contention after a poor night against the Chiefs last weekend.

Up front, Brandon Paenga-Amosa is tipped for a first call-up and there is strong mail Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu — after just three bench cameos for NSW this year — will leapfrog other worthy contenders to win a spot as well, mostly due to his four-cap experience.

Reds backrower Caleb Timu appears locked in for a maiden Wallabies squad call-up as well.

Hanigan is due back for game two in Melbourne.