Really? A quick Google search and Mclennan came out in an interview and said Crichton was on their hitlist back in April. As Eastman pointed out he was rabbiting on about how his wife knows his Dad since they were both 5.
He then mentioned it again in early May "Without being prejudicial to Joey's negotiations, we can easily afford Joey and Angus Crichton as well," McLennan told 9News.
Surely you don't make all those references in the media and not approach them, or maybe Rugby Australia are more incompetent than I thought, so when the manager finally picks up the phone they can say "well they approached us". You can't make this stuff up. I guess there should be an asterisk next to the "we can easily afford him as well" with something like if he is willing to accept far less than what he currently earns.
It's all the chest-beating in the public space with no possible intent or means to back it up that makes Rugby Australia look like a joke.