IRB gets eligibilty decision right

OPINION: It is not often that this New Zealander agrees with any International Rugby Board decision. But on the issue of international eligibility one feels that in electing to stay with its current policy, which prevents a player appearing at top level for a second country, the IRB has got it right.

The New Zealand union should be complimented for making a case for the Pacific Island countries.

It would be great if Samoa could have the services of Jerry Collins or Tonga Sione Lauaki.

But, sadly, relaxing the regulations for one group and not another will cause more problems than it solves.

Where, for a start, would the line be drawn?

Where, for instance, do Samoa, Argentina and Italy stand in relation to those countries who like to think they remain in the international top tier: Wales, Ireland and Scotland?

Samoa, after all, has twice beaten Wales in World Cup tournaments and Argentina finished third at the last World Cup, ahead of test rugby heavyweights, Australia, France and New Zealand.

The eligibility regulations also haven't quite lived down some of the abuses of the past.

The Welsh grannygate controversy, when Graham Henry was Wales coach and Shane Howarth's Welsh qualifications were found to be invalid, is only one episode.

And as much as many of us relished the efforts of Samoa at the 1991 World Cup, there might still be a suspicion over the ancestry of some of its star players, Frank Bunce, Stephen Bachop and Mata'afa Keenan.

New Zealand should appreciate, too, that it is not the only country abounding in players who qualify for more than one country. It is not uncommon to find people born and resident in England with Welsh, Irish and Scottish parentage.

The IRB might well have got another decision right in the past week by declining to tamper just yet with the playing laws.

The All Blacks, with their splendid performance in the final test against France, showed that it is still possible, even within the current laws, to play attractive rugby.

What is important is to have consistent refereeing and an opposition, as France was, also prepared to run the ball.

The win over France, indeed, made a special weekend for those Kiwis whose love of sport has always had two key staples, the All Blacks and test cricket.

For good reasons both have been under pressure in recent times and neither might have recovered yet from all their problems.

That was illustrated last weekend with the All Blacks depth exposed against the Barbarians and the cricket side's second test loss when the top order batting failed abysmally.

But the All Blacks against France and the way the first cricket test win against Pakistan was achieved still restored a little of the old faith.

- © Fairfax NZ News