The other benefactor of the “Giteau Law” has called on Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to consider tweaking it as he assembles his Rugby World Cup squad this year.
Drew Mitchell was thrust into the 2015 World Cup alongside Giteau after Cheika redrafted the eligibility laws to allow Australians playing overseas to represent their country if they had at least 60 Test caps and seven Super Rugby seasons to their name.
He went on to become the Wallabies’ leading World Cup try-scorer – the winger crossed 14 times in three tournaments during a 71-Test career – as Australia made the final.
Australia’s 2018 season was their worst season in 60 years, slumping to a 4-9 win-loss record and a record-low No.7 in the world rankings.
Their plight has seen former Wallabies coaches Bob Dwyer and Alan Jones call for an end to the law altogether, while Mitchell thinks even a tweak would have multiple benefits.
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“This time before the last World Cup we thought there’d only be people picked from inside Australia,” Mitchell recalled.
“Myself and Gits were the lucky benefactors of a slight rule change and you can’t rule something like that out again if Cheik hasn’t got the squad he wants.”
While some argue its scrapping would only gut Super Rugby of more Australians, departing in the knowledge they could still turn out for the Wallabies, Mitchell believes it would have a two-pronged impact ahead of Japan’s showpiece in September.
He said Scott Fardy (30 Tests), Will Skelton (18), James O’Connor (44) and Nic White (22) were among the many plying their trade in Europe who could put pressure on members of the current squad.
“We need success and if this is going to help it why not have a look,” he said.
“It makes Australian players less appealing to European club if they could potentially lose them to play for Australia and you’d get a response from the current guys saying ‘I’m not just competing against the guys locally, but externally as well’.
“Even just the threat of it wouldn’t be too bad.”