Most pointedly, flyer Sefa Naivalu would be ineligible for the Wallabies bench and fellow Fijian Henry Speight would only just be cleared under the proposed residency rule change that Hourcade is backing.
Naivalu only last month fulfilled the three-year residency requirement which new World Rugby vice-president Agustin Pichot wants to extend to five years.
"We never have players born in other countries in our team but if players qualify on residency there should be a strong relation between the player and the country," Hourcade said.
"There should not be any misuse by the country for their own advantage.
"It's difficult to understand that some countries with one million players have to go after players from other countries."
Hourcade's dig would seem more aimed at the French who have recently selected Kiwi, South African and Fijian players in their Test team after stints in the cashed-up club scene.
Quade Cooper and Dean Mumm (New Zealand), Samu Kerevi (Fiji), Dane Haylett-Petty (South Africa), Timani (Tonga) and Will Genia (Papua New Guinea) are all fiercely proud of representing Australia after being born overseas. All have been immersed in Australian life since their teens or younger.
Skipper Stephen Moore said the Wallabies had delved into their non-stereotypical make-up to forge a stronger team identity.
"We do have an incredibly diverse playing group," said Moore, born to Irish parents in Saudi Arabia before settling in Australia at five.
"A lot has gone into moulding our team identity to respect all those backgrounds and what representing Australia means as the ultimate."
A powerful statement about representing the Wallabies must come from the six 2016 debutants at Twickenham (4.30am Sydney time/ 5.30am Brisbane time Sunday morning).
Cheika has put huge faith in his calculated makeover of the team to flush out new weapons from towering 2.04m lock Adam Coleman in the engine room to young winger Reece Hodge.
"In our 2016 team story this is an important stepping stone game," Cheika said.
Only a win over a tricky opponent will cut it after Cheika was upfront about the team's poor and self-inflicted two-from-eight Test record this year.
"The three Tests against England and last week against South Africa, with our best performance of the year, are all games we should have won even with a changing team," Cheika said.
Only clinically finishing chances, rather than the ragged execution in the try-zone in Pretoria, will be good enough.
