Former All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall calls for a radical change in the New Zealand national team selection policy. He says New Zealand must adapt to the changing face of world rugby by allowing the selection of players from overseas.
The end of an era of domination?
Marshall takes a hard look at the current state of New Zealand rugby. He believes that the All Blacks’ dominance is over.
To support this claim, he cites historic defeats against Argentina and Ireland, the draw against the British and Irish Lions in 2017, as well as failures in the 2019 World Cup (semi-final) and 2023 (final). For the former international, these results demonstrate that New Zealand is no longer “unbeatable” as in the past.
Towards a new selection approach
Faced with this observation, Marshall calls for a rethink of the selection policy. He proposes to take inspiration from the South African model by authorizing the selection of players playing abroad.
According to him, this opening would allow to broaden the pool of selectable players, to expose the players to other more competitive championships and to strengthen the competitiveness of the national team. Many talented players like Leicester Fainga’anuku, Shannon Frizell Or Richie Mo’unga could thus be recalled to the selection.
Mixed opinions within New Zealand rugby
This proposal is not unanimous within New Zealand rugby. Mils Muliainaa former All Blacks fullback, is more reserved. He fears in particular a mass exodus of young talent to more lucrative foreign championships.
The New Zealand Federation (NZR) seems reluctant for the moment to relax its policy. It fears a weakening of the local championship and a loss of control over its internationals.
Rethinking the New Zealand rugby ecosystem
Beyond the issue of expatriate players, Marshall points out the limits of the current New Zealand model. He mentions a local championship (Super Rugby) that lacks renewal, players who are not challenged enough on a daily basis and a lack of exposure to other styles of play. For the former scrum-half, it is the entire ecosystem of New Zealand rugby that must be rethought to regain its place at the top of world rugby.
As reported by Planet Rugby, the debate is being launched in New Zealand. It illustrates the challenges the All Blacks face in adapting to an increasingly competitive international rugby.
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