Jim Morton,
AAP November 28, 2013, 7:56 pm


Ewen McKenzie has laid down the law to the likes of James O'Connor and Digby Ioane that foreign-based Wallabies won't waltz into his World Cup team if they return home midway through 2015.

While O'Connor, Ioane and other Australian stars are keen to play in the showpiece tournament - kicking off in September 2015 - after finishing lucrative overseas contracts, McKenzie will retain strict guidelines for selection.

The Wallabies coach is determined to stick by Australian-based players and said the foreign legion must be registered for the 2015 Super Rugby season by late 2014 and be back home in time to be eligible.

Winger Ioane has signed a two-year deal with Paris glamour club Stade Francais which would end in late May in 2015 - too late according to McKenzie's stipulations.

He wants them playing a full Super season, or close to it, and won't relent even if they get to sneak into provincial sides after June if spots open up through injury replacement grounds.

"The guys who want to be playing World Cup have to be playing Super Rugby in 2015," McKenzie said.

"There's a lot of people talking about it but in the end you have to do something about it.

"You can't just cherry-pick on the way through and grab all the trinkets on the way. It has to be a complete investment (in Australian rugby)."

The Super Rugby season starts in February, three months before the end of the European seasons.

O'Connor is currently on a short-term contract with London Irish but would have to sign with one of the five Super Rugby teams for 2015 to be in line for a World Cup call-up.

McKenzie will wave goodbye to lock Sitaleki Timani for at least a year at the end of the current European tour as he will link with Montpellier next week on a two-season deal, which has an option after one.

"It's up to (Timani) to decide how long that deal is," the coach said. "The ball is in his court.

"Guys understand what out expectations are."

Unlike South Africa and European nations, the Wallabies and New Zealand only select home-based players, to keep the domestic product strong.

"In the end you want to see blokes make the sacrifice to wear the jersey and do their best," McKenzie said.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...tz-into-rwc15/