KEY POINTS:
So the Australians are set to allow two foreign players into each of their Super 14 teams and there is a hint that Auckland might want to seek a foreign player to solve their first-five problems.
I don't see any problems with that, although I think Auckland might
want to have a look at the type of rugby they are playing when it comes to wondering what they do at No 10 after Nick Evans and Isa Nacewa have gone.
Auckland rugby is now so heavily dominated by Polynesian players that a young No 10 could easily spend his day tackling great big forwards running at him, rather than learning how to run a game.
Of course, rugby is ever-changing and the structure of the modern game means that it is harder to sit out at the end of a halfback's long pass and run the game. Difficult, but not impossible.
After all, Canterbury seem to have successfully introduced players like Dan Carter, Stephen Brett and new boy Colin Slade, who is right out of school - and there are others too.
So you'd have to ask how Canterbury can find No 10s and Auckland can't. I'm not putting it all at the door of the Polynesian players but there is no doubt it is a factor. Look at France - they were renowned for the silky skills of their players at one time before a stubborn coaching regime went for big, bashing players rather than finesse.
It wasn't all that long ago that Auckland fielded a chunky little first-five who kicked a lot, passed a bit and never tackled [Grant Fox] and he was pretty much the world's best. They also produced the skinniest winger/fullback I have ever seen [Terry Wright] and he scored more tries than most.
So maybe those running Auckland rugby need to have a look at their youth and academy programmes and make sure they are identifying and nurturing the silky skills as well as the big boppers.
As for Australia, I have no problem with foreign players as they simply do not have the depth below their first XVs at Super 14 level. We saw it a year or two ago with Queensland when their playing stocks were exposed. They gave a propping berth to a New Zealander, Tama Turirangi, who, if memory serves me right, couldn't get a run in Wellington, Taranaki or even Manawatu at the time.
But he managed to get qualified for Queensland and he got a few games for them that year - showing, I believe, the lack of depth in Australian rugby, especially when spread over four franchises.
But we won't be worrying about foreign players when the All Blacks line up against the Wallabies for the Tri-Nations decider on Saturday.
I think the All Blacks should start with Sitiveni Sivivatu on the wing (provided he's fit) now Anthony Tuitavake is out. Richard Kahui will get one spot and he has been performing well but we might need Sivivatu there to worry the Australians with his hard-to-contain attacking skills.
Joe Rokocoko looks like he needs five or six more Air NZ Cup games yet and Hosea Gear is looking good but I don't think he is quite ready.
The downside is that Sivivatu can go badly off. But that's why I'd start with him - and get him off if he isn't sparking. The All Blacks could come out hard in the first quarter, try for a lead and then defend it - and Sivivatu would be ideal for that first period if he's on song.
I still worry about there being no back-up for Richie McCaw and Jerome Kaino at No 6 really needs to step up with a big one now, I think.
