Overseas imports taking heavy toll on 'home' talent
THE growing influence of overseas players in British, Irish and French rugby in recent years is revealed by the squads announced for the start of this weekend's Six Nations Championship.
In almost every country, there is an alarming dearth of quality players in key positions, caused in part by clubs and provinces recruiting overseas stars.
The warning signs were posted a few years ago -- as soon as rugby turned professional and countries like France and England, in particular, signed players from the southern hemisphere. Ireland and Wales followed suit and continue to do so, with two of the major Irish provincial sides buying South African tight-head props.
The early warning signs of the long-term consequences of this policy were waved aside by the people doing the recruiting. "They can only help develop our young players ... they'll bring good habits and teach us valuable lessons," were some of the messages delivered to soothe furrowed brows.
In a sense, they did. But they also did something else, deny places to up-and-coming players who needed match experience at the highest level on a regular basis.
But, hand on heart, who can say they haven't enjoyed watching Argentinian Felipe Contepomi win games for Leinster, South African BJ Botha scrummage powerfully for Ulster, New Zealander Nick Evans and Springbok Butch James strut their stuff in the English Premiership and Argentine star Juan Martin Hernandez dazzle for Stade Francais? Alas, herein lies the poisoned chalice for the countries who start this year's Six Nations campaign at Twickenham, Croke Park and Murrayfield this weekend.
Is it a total coincidence that France have only one fly-half -- Lionel Beauxis, a player who has actually been playing full-back for much of the season for his club -- in their squad for Dublin, having seen overseas players like Juan-Martin Hernandez (Stade Francais), Brock James (Clermont-Auvergne), Andy Goode (Brive), Dan Carter (Perpignan), Tusi Pisi (Toulon) and Manny Edmonds (Bayonne) fill the No 10 shirts for so many French clubs?
Is it coincidental that, while Contepomi has played so often at outside-half for Leinster, Ireland still hasn't discovered a real replacement for Ronan O'Gara? Maybe you find it odd that Andy Goode is the only fly-half England can choose for their match-day squad against Italy on Saturday. The fact that England have to pick the Brive fly-half says everything about the lack of alternatives in English club rugby. But then, with overseas players like Nick Evans (Harlequins), Butch James (Bath), Derrick Hougaard (Leicester), Peter Hewat (London Irish) and Glen Jackson (Saracens) all wearing the No 10 jersey either regularly or quite often for their clubs, is it a surprise?
Scotland haven't had a decent No 10 since Craig Chalmers retired in 1999, while Italy have dabbled in recent years with a former South African, Roland de Marigny, and Argentine-born Ramiro Pez in the outside-half role. They are likely to try a centre, Andrea Marcato, at No 10 in this Championship and have discussed playing flanker Mauro Bergamasco at scrum-half, such is the dearth of ability in those positions.
Only Wales have two quality fly-halves available, Stephen Jones and James Hook. But in their case, the gap is unmistakably at open-side flanker, where 33-year-old Martyn Williams soldiers on. Indeed, coach Warren Gatland sees so few alternatives that he is trying to get Williams all the way to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, by which stage he will be 36.
What this goes to show is two things. Undeniably, the Magners League, Guinness Premiership and Top 14 have been enhanced by the presence of these players. Remove all the overseas stars and much of the allure would disappear from any of those leagues.
But the cruel fact is you can't have your cake and eat it. There is a price to pay for inviting overseas players into the clubs and provinces in this part of the world. And it is starting to be paid.
Still not convinced? Well, think back to what New Zealand, South Africa and Australia did to every country in this part of the world last November, even when the southern hemisphere nations were weary at the end of their long seasons. Only Wales -- just-- managed a win over one of them, Australia.
Like all the other factors, those results were too much of a coincidence.
- Peter Bills
