Dave Rennie opens up on Wallabies selection chances for Japan-bound Tom Banks
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie won't hold Tom Banks' impending move to Japan against him when it comes to selecting his team to face England in July.
The Brumbies fullback is expected to agree to an eye-watering offer reportedly worth $2.8 million over two years.
Unlikely to be preferred as one of three foreign-based players available to Rennie under the new selection policy, it means Banks would miss next year's World Cup in France.
But that won't factor into the debate as Perth's test opener against England on July 2 looms.
"We've got some decisions to make around, 'Are we using all the games this year to gear up for a World Cup? Or are we trying to win test matches?'," Rennie told AAP.
"Well we certainly want to win now and grow from that, so form will dictate who we play at 15."
Banks was controversially overlooked for the 2019 World Cup by Michael Cheika but was the first-choice custodian last season under Rennie until breaking him arm.
Reece Hodge, Andrew Kellaway and Kurtley Beale were used in the remaining tests, while Jock Campbell and Jordan Petaia have emerged as options since then.
But none have banged the door down, while 93-test talent Beale will be back at the Waratahs from his two-year stint with Racing 92 in France fresh off a long injury stint.
"Tom's been excellent, it's great to see Jordy play there, Jock's played a bit too and Kurtley's been injured for a long time but will be back in a few weeks," Rennie said.
"There's definitely some options there but all I'll say (on Banks) is that he's had an excellent season, missed a few weeks due to injury, but come back in really good form again.
"He's quicker, worked harder on his game and we're seeing the benefit of that and we'll pick on form."
It's an approach that pleases former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack, who doesn't want to see the important England series become a World Cup laboratory.
"I haven't changed my mind in 30 years, in terms of that we can get overcommitted to the next World Cup," he told AAP.
"It's important for the team to win this year, you can get confidence out of it so if he's the best choice, pick him now and someone else will fill in if he's not here next year.
"To pick guys purely and simply on the basis of a World Cup, you're playing with fire.
"Obviously you're not going to play five blokes who all aren't going to be there, but in certain positions, you pick your best."
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Spot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
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