Wallabies fullback Tom Banks has received offers to play in Japan worth a reported $1.4 million a season for two years, leaving the Brumbies and Rugby Australia frantically scrambling to keep him on board for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
The Brumbies chief executive Phil Thomson confirmed Banks was sought after by Japanese clubs, telling the Sydney Morning Herald the No.15 was the target of a “very attractive and lucrative offer from Japan”.
“It’s tough, for all parties,” Thomson said.
“It is a tough decision for Tom and it’s a tough market to compete with, here in Australia. At the moment we are still in discussions, there is no final decision. We will try and work closely with Rugby Australia to make sure the best offer is on the table.
“It’s really hard. You can sign a deal like that and set yourself up for a long time, so that’s in the mind of people. Anything can happen in your career over a three-year period so you can have injuries or loss of form or whatever.
“Is it better to take the bird in the hand, or back yourself to play more Test matches and experience World Cups – and then you’ll still be a commodity sought after at a later time? It is a tough one.”
Thomson said RA and the Brumbies were working to structure a counter offer that was similar to the deal where Michael Hooper was able to cash in a season playing in Japan.
“That’s certainly on the table and open for discussion too, so we can look at all those ways we can structure a deal with him to give him the opportunity to continue to play for Australia but also have the opportunity to go to Japan and experience that lifestyle and earn some additional money,” Thomson said.
“With someone like Tom, he has played Test match rugby for Australia but he is still establishing himself as the genuine number one fullback in Australia, leading into a World Cup year in 2023. That’s something we can chat with him about, making himself the premium No.15 here in Australia and experiencing a World Cup.”
The recent changes to the Giteau Law allows coach Dave Rennie to choose three overseas based players at any one time but would leave him with a significant headache. Fullback has also been a problem spot for the Wallabies, although Jordan Petaia, Jock Campbell and Kurtley Beale shape as realistic options.
The Herald said Banks would drop approximately $1 million if he ignored the offers and stayed with the Brumbies. The paper said two clubs linked to Banks were Honda and Canon and that Banks had “made up his mind” about his next steps.
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Force to sign Fainga’a
Fresh from unveiling Simon Cron as their incoming coach, the Western Force are close to signing Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga’a from the Brumbies.
Fox Sports says the Brumbies No.2 will join on a one year deal. He had been offered a deal tomplay with Lyon in France.
Marshall trips into rolling mauls
All Blacks legend Justin Marshall has described rolling mauls as a try-scoring tactic “a horrific thing to watch” as the Highlanders used the ploy to devastating effect to beat Moana Pasifika on the weekend.
“It’s really predictable rugby, “Marshall said on SENZ radio.
“When it gets down to that zone, it’s frustrating to watch a team like Moana Pasifika, who are really competitive right across the board but the opposition score four tries (against them) from rolling mauls, and that’s the game.
“That’s not really playing rugby is it. It’s a horrific thing to watch, because there’s nothing dynamic, nothing entertaining about it.”
Marshall said it also led to an unusual statistic.
“Hookers are the leading try scorers at the moment, more than outside backs,” he said.
“It’s not just against Moana Pasifika. Every single team seems to be going into that zone knowing that the laws of the game or whatever it might be restricts the opposition, if you get really well set, from shutting down a driving maul.
“… No one seems to be sacking the lineouts any more, so I wonder whether or not they can’t get access to the jumper to sack it because of the laws and the way they’re protected and blocked.
“But whatever it is, to be honest, it’s pissing me off.”
ALB faces injury battle
All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown could be out for an extended period after suffering another shoulder injury in the Chiefs’ dispiriting loss to the Blues.
The 56-Test star partially dislocated his right shoulder in November’s loss to Ireland. On Saturday he appeared to suffer a dislocation to the same shoulder.
“Not great,” coach Clayton McMillan said of Lienert-Brown. “He’s putting on a brave face but initial reports are that it’s not looking good. His arm is in a sling.”
All Blacks captain Sam Cane said he felt for his team-mate.
“He’s a massive part of our team and must be closing in on 100 games,” Cane said. “I’m not going to feel too sorry for him yet. I’ll cross my fingers and hope it’s not as bad as initially thought but my gut feel is he may be in a bit of strife.”