The Sports Corner

Gasnier declares he will never play for France

Australian rugby convert Mark Gasnier has refuted suggestions by his Stade Francais coach, Ewen McKenzie, that he was a selection possibility for France at the 2011 World Cup.

Gasnier who would be eligible to play for France if he accrued three seasons in French provincial rugby has declared he is Australian and would only play for the Wallabies, but that talk of internationals is premature.

In his first interview with Australian media since he left rugby league and moved to France, Gasnier insisted he would never play for France.

“No, no way,” said Gasnier. “I can tell you straight away, I am a very proud Australian. I didn’t take it for granted when I played for Australia in rugby league. Australia is a great country and I would never play for any other country and I am proud of that fact, too. 

Besides, my mother and father would disown me.”

The news will undoubtedly bring a smile to the faces of some at the Australian Rugby headquarters who view Gasnier as a potential selection for the 2011 World Cup. Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and high performance manager David Nucifora were at Stade Jean-Bouin to watch Gasnier play the week before the Wallabies played France in Paris. Gasnier was aware that Deans and Nucifora would be present and had met with Nucifora before the game.

“He just wanted to meet me, which I was happy to do,” said Gasnier. “I think it is unfair to talk about the Wallabies because, if you include half-games, that’s about four and a half games I’ve played.”

“I really have focused all my energy on learning the game. Until I do that, it’s pointless.”

Unfortunately for Deans and Nucifora they did not get to see much of Gasnier as he was replaced after only 19 minutes with a recurring ankle injury.

Gasnier has played down the talk of international rugby, the 2011 World Cup and what he hopes to accomplish in rugby. Many pundits in Australia feel he could walk onto any of Australia’s four Super 14 sides and would be a Wallaby selection certainty after a season at home.

But the talk is premature when you realize that Gasnier who did not play rugby as a school boy has a long way to go to adapt to the 15-man game. Whilst his athleticism and footballing brain won’t change, he will need to learn the tactics of rugby and gain plenty more experience before he challenges for a spot on the Wallabies.

Current Wallaby and fellow cross code convert Timana Tahu, who did play school boy rugby, is a prime example of a player needing time to understand the intricacies of rugby. Tahu who is a rare athletically gifted individual has had his trials and tribulations in one season of Super 14 rugby. His selection to the Wallabies European touring squad was no certainty and came as a surprise to many who felt he needed more seasoning.

Gasnier, by signing for two seasons in French provincial rugby, avoids a lot of the selection speculation in Australia because he is not eligible for Wallabies selection until he is contracted to play domestically.

His decision may have been in a large part due to the significant money on offer in France, but now also looks like a smart decision if he one day has the desire to become a dual international player.