The cold shoulder from one Wallabies coach and a welcoming invitation from another...that’s all it took for Duncan Paia’aua to reboot his dreams of gold.
The utility back’s surprise inclusion in Australia’s large 42-squad for the Bledisloe Cup series caught everyone by surprise.
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Everyone that is except Wallabies coach Davie Rennie and Rugby Australia’s Director of Rugby Scott Johnson, who operate a database that keeps tabs on every Aussie rugby player performing around the world.
Paia’aua has been included as versatile cover for the backline at a time when the squad size, border restrictions through COVID and being based in Queensland have all contributed to the composition of the names.
Paia’aua played more than 40 games for the Queensland Reds before he decided on a change of scenery in 2019.
At 26, Paia’aua is in the prime of his career at French club Toulon. The bigger question was if anyone was watching?
“I’d spoken to Duncan previously about Super Rugby and having a crack at the Wallabies,” the persistent Rennie said.
“He’s very versatile. He covers a number of spots and he’s certainly a guy capable of playing at this level.”
That would have been music to Paia’aua’s ears because he saw no route to the Wallabies under predecessor Michael Cheika.
His call-up by Cheika for the non-cap Wallabies XV-Barbarians clash in Sydney in 2017 was a high point but it has also proved a pivotal moment of a different kind. Cheika had other horses to back.
“The coach (Cheika) gave me no feedback, literally not said a word to me, since that game so things look pretty shut (for higher levels),” Paia’aua said when Toulon loomed after he played as an experimental flyhalf in that game.
“I’ve decided to test myself overseas so that’ll be it for a while although I’ll still be viable at 27 when I return after three years.”
Paia’aua always hoped the Wallabies’ selectors would still be looking and they have been.
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In truth, Paiai’aua was what you classified as a good Super Rugby player before he left in 2019. At his best, he had a lovely natural step and slice through the defence. He could throw an excellent pass, short or long. Sometimes his defence let him down. He had experience. He could play in the centres or pinch-hit at flyhalf.
There was still the hint he could be something more. Experience in the tough French Top 14 has been the finishing school his skills and composure needed.
Using the revised Giteau Law to introduce a player from overseas with less than 60 Test caps is just common sense in action in these COVID times and we all know how common sense is often in short supply.
