A new program is placing the Wallabies' future in the hands of graduates such as Quade Cooper and James O'Connor, writes the Sydney Morning Herald's Josh Rakic.
"Quade Cooper playing for the Brisbane Broncos and James O'Connor running around for the Parramatta Eels? If the ARU had not intervened, two of the Wallabies' best young stars could have been lost to the game before they became household names.
"As Australian rugby prepares to wave goodbye to the likes of Al Baxter, Luke Burgess and Matt Giteau, the future of the Wallabies is being secured by Ben Whitaker and the national development program.
"Since its inception in 2004, the Gold Squad program has helped to shape 14 Wallabies, including O'Connor, Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Will Genia and David Pocock.
"National development manager Whitaker said the future looked just as bright, with more than 750 junior footballers between 14 and 18 taking part in a range of daily, weekly and programs to prepare them for Super Rugby and international duty.
"It's a construction line of our next-generation Wallabies."
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