Elsom ready for Europe sabbatical; Force re-sign Takiari; Cross in negotiation
Elsom ready for Europe sabbatical
Bret Harris | March 18, 2008
WALLABIES blindside flanker Rocky Elsom is poised to embark on a European sojourn before returning to play in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
Elsom, who was the Wallabies' starting No6 at the World Cup in France last year, spoke to ARU chief executive John O'Neill last week to discuss his plans for the next few years.
While Elsom has not decided whether he will accept the ARU's offer of a contract extension, it seems likely he will take a break from Australian rugby for a year or two.
O'Neill, who was disappointed at speculation the ARU had deliberately let Elsom go, said: "I met with Rocky personally last week, just a one on one. We had an hour together.
"It is fair to say that the offer that's on the table is acceptable, but he's thinking about some other issues at the moment, which remain confidential, but relate to maybe having a break.
"There's been no absence of urgency from our part or the Waratahs. The ball has been in his court and he simply hasn't made up his mind yet.
"He has acknowledged the offer is a good offer and he is just contemplating his own lifestyle issues at the moment."
O'Neill said Elsom, who has played 32 Tests since his debut against Samoa in 2005, was the kind of player the Wallabies wanted for their next World Cup campaign.
An outstanding lineout forward, the athletic Elsom also provides the Waratahs and Wallabies packs with physicality.
Wallabies second-rower Dan Vickerman is planning to return for the World Cup after heading overseas at the end of the year, while former Test winger Joe Roff had a stint in France before the 2003 tournament. There is no reason why Elsom, 25, could not do the same before 2011.
"He (Elsom) has leadership potential," O'Neill said. "He is absolutely a bloke we want to keep. He is a player who leads from the front.
"It is possible (Elsom could play in the 2011 World Cup). Joe Roff did that. It's a bit like Dan Vickerman. They are not being driven by a lack of acceptance of the ARU's financial offer. It's more, I wouldn't mind experiencing something different and then come back.
"Joe Roff went to Biarritz for a short period of time, for a year or so, and he came back and resumed his career and was a better player for it.
"Our dialogue with Rocky is at my level because he just wanted to shoot the breeze with me.
"If he did go away, and that's not decided, but if he did, he would be back well in time for the World Cup."
O'Neill also fired back at criticism of the ARU for not having yet extended the contract of Western Force outside centre Ryan Cross.
It is understood the ARU was waiting to assess the form of several Super 14 players before deciding whether to top-up their provincial deals.
Cross, who joined the Force last year from NRL club Sydney Roosters, has been in outstanding form this season and his management has been frustrated by the delay in negotiations.
But O'Neill said he fully expected to finalise a deal with the former rugby league star.
"Some of this is being driven by agents," O'Neill said. "A player has a good game and suddenly the phone rings.
"Those negotiations are being conducted by the Western Force and ourselves. Ryan Cross this season is showing his ability and I'm confident in the appropriate time frame we will be retaining his services."
Meanwhile, the Force has re-signed prop Troy Takiari for a further two years.
