by Sam Ryan –

After hearing Southern Districts flyhalf Ben Volavola announce he will cross the ditch and replace Dan Carter at the Crusaders in 2016, I’m left with one question for Australia’s five Super Rugby franchises.

WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?

Sure, Volavola has struggled to find his place in the Waratahs backline – all of whom will likely wear Gold at some point this year – but that doesn’t excuse Australia’s four other franchises for looking past one of the countries best young talents.

Here are a few reasons why Australian rugby shouldn’t have let Ben Volavola leave:

Depth

We often hear Australia does not have the depth for five Super Rugby sides and in certain positions, we don’t. But it certainly doesn’t help, when we let talent walk out the door.

You can understand the Waratahs reluctance to re-sign Volavola, with Foley and Folau parked comfortably in the 10 and 15 jersey. The Brumbies are in a similar boat with Toomua and Lealiifano, yet surely the struggling Reds, Force and Rebels could all benefit from a player of Volavola’s quality.

Whilst the Reds made Volavola an offer, it appears they didn’t do enough to win over his services and could be left in a spot of bother if Quade Cooper heads overseas.

Class

Ben Volavola has a quality that cannot be taught – the ability to freeze time and look calm in the tensest of situations. Few playmakers make rugby look as simple as Volavola does. With ease, he throws perfect spirals from both sides of the field and kicks like he should be playing AFL.

Volavola’s ability and mannerisms are similar to that of Wallabies great Stephen Larkham and even Rebels flyhalf Jack Debreczeni. Sure, he’s yet to prove himself at Super Rugby level, but at 24 he’s a player you’d be willing to gamble on.

Talent

Earlier this week, Volavola announced he will play for Fiji in both the Pacific Nations Cup and the Rugby World Cup. Now he’s being recruited to replace the world’s best flyhalf at arguably the world’s most successful provincial club.

If you’re being recruited to play in a World Cup and then to replace Dan Carter, it’s a pretty good indication that you can play.

Nerve

The NBA finals – between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Caviliers – start this week, so let’s use that as an example.

If the series goes to 7 matches, it will be played over 308 minutes (excluding overtime). But if history is anything to go by, the NBA Championships will be decided by just a handful of key moments. When it comes to these moments, the ball will likely go to two players and two players only. Cleveland’s Lebron James and Golden State’s Stephen Curry.

James and Curry are paid more than $US30 million a season between them because they deliver in the key moments.

So does Ben Volavola… Check out his kick to put Southern Districts in last year’s grand final if you need to be reminded.

After working with Bernard Foley throughout the 2014 season, former Crusader Andrew Mehrtens admitted to having mixed feelings as he watched Foley kick the Waratahs to the Super Rugby title.

Waratahs and Volavola fans might experience a similar feeling in the years to come.