Bracing for one of the most daunting selection headaches of his career, Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss has dismissed any suggestion the demise of the Melbourne Rebels could ultimately drag down Australian rugby.
Now blessed with a gluttony of talent, having recruited six players from the fallen Super Rugby outfit, Kiss faces a potential future retention nightmare – with 18 of his players having donned the Wallabies colours.
Prop Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen has also played for the All Blacks and Samoa, taking the total number of international appearances to 234 in the squad, while Ryan Smith was chosen in Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt’s squad for the two-match series against Wales in July.
Wallabies star Filipo Daugunu has added to the Queensland Reds’ growing stocks.Credit: Getty Images
Another four Reds joined the Australia XV in the UK, with winger Tim Ryan also discussed by Schmidt as a future selection, and likely would have joined one of the Spring Tour squads if not for a syndesmosis injury.
All this means Queensland will field a formidable team – and also have at least four Wallabies or Australia XV stars not named in the game day 23.
“It’s going to be difficult, but you want it that way – it’s a competitive group of players,” Kiss said.
“They’re all ambitious, we understand intimately as a group that it takes all of us, and when you get your opportunity you will take your opportunity with two hands and treat it with the respect it deserves.
“If you’re not in that 23, I know our boys will be committed to making sure the 23 can do their best work.”
While such depth spells danger for the Reds’ rivals next year, it highlights a concerning problem the Rebels’ financial collapse has created.
With one less franchise, more than 30 athletes have relocated, condensing the talent pool at other clubs. At least 10 players have shifted to rugby league, and there is still the allure of lucrative overseas competitions.
But Kiss is adamant the logjam will instead lead to higher performance play, reaping greater rewards on the global stage.
“I think it’s a good balance, and that’s nothing against previous teams in the competition. It’s what we have, we have to deal with the reality,” Kiss said.
“The more good players that are condensed, it becomes more competitive and the cream rises to the top. If that’s the challenge we have – better players to pick from – I think that’s a good thing for Australian rugby.”
The Reds’ preseason has been boosted by the returning Australia XV squad members, headlined by Massimo De Lutiis.
Still without a Super Rugby debut, the hulking prop took on England A in the national colours, on the back of strong performances against Japan’s Saitama Wild Knights, Tonga and Wales for Queensland.
Kiss confirmed the 126-kilogram powerhouse was in no doubt of featuring in Super Rugby, declaring “it won’t be a question mark about whether we start him or put him on the bench – we know he’s ready”.
And the 20-year-old was adamant he had learned enough to join a pack boasting 141 Test caps.
“Playing in different countries and versing different types of opponents, you’re versing a bit of everything and getting different skills. Playing against people at the top of their country, you learn some things,” De Lutiis said.
“[The coaches] have confidence in me, and I have the confidence in myself to play Super Rugby.”
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