Wynne Gray: ABs in Oz teams sidesteps issues

Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle and her cohorts need to think outside the square. Photo / Getty Images

Amusing guy that Mark Ella. Down the years we've dispatched a few pints and had some great times in Europe and Australia as his playing career morphed into the world of sports commentary and broadcasting.

Ella talks a sharp game and brings different ideas as he did when he played with such aplomb as the Wallabies first five-eighths. You always felt he was a step ahead of others on the park as his natural flair and gift for rugby made him such a dangerous opponent.

His innovation and work alongside brothers Glen and Gary for their Randwick club, NSW and the Wallabies inspired many but this time he has gone a goosestep too far — as if he's over-imbibed on some of David Campese's wine.

It's understandable given the work of the Australian sides in the Super Rugby series with the Waratahs aiming to stop the bleeding at 38 victories when they play the Crusaders tomorrow in Christchurch.

They've got a starter's chance but if they contradict their patchy work against the Blues, they will be swabbed and tested all the way back to Sydney. Any Australian supporter would have felt let down by their last round effort and that, rather than any moonshine, may have prompted Ella's suggestion that some All Blacks should be crow-barred into teams across the Tasman to raise the standards in the competition.

There are plenty of players with Kiwi connections involved in those teams but culling the Aussie group to four doesn't seem to have improved the standards.

It's up to the Aussies to tighten everything about their game and for analysts, supporters and sponsors to ask some tough questions of Raelene Castle who has climbed into the big chair.

● What's the strategy about contracting players and shouldn't their pay scales be adjusted to reflect their ability and contribution?

● What's Rod Kafer's impact been after a year as the nation's coaching director?

● Who's tracking down the next wave of talent and making sure they get the correct tuition if they heading into rugby.

● What's Michael Cheika's role in all this?

● How's Mick Byrne going after switching from his All Black involvement?

Chucking Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane or Brodie Retallick into an Aussie side might help but would dilute that essential transtasman rivalry and be a further admission of defeat like asking one of the Aussie cricketers — not Warner, Bancroft or Smith — to play for New Zealand.

In the spirit of Anzac there is another way which might benefit both countries.

Europe is filling up with Kiwi coaches who have been through the Super Rugby system and been unable to make the next step or whose style or face did not fit that level. There are exceptions such as Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown who have taken up with the Sunwolves while John Mitchell has been away for some years and is back with the Sharks.

Others in roles with New Zealand sides may feel ready for a head coaching position but find their path blocked here. They should be encouraged to use their skills and transfer to Australia where their impact could be more readily compared.

Watching the Aussies squirm is entertainment but it gets boring. Castle, Kafer and company need to think outside the box to create some significant change, something like an appeal to Wayne Smith's love of rugby and instructional skills. If he went in an advisory role, he wouldn't be upsetting his loyalty by coaching against the All Blacks but would surely help raise the levels of a tournament — something New Zealand rugby needs.