I personally would not bring in anyone outside of the Australian based players this year. I understand when people say you shouldn't use test matches to develop players. However, you have to develop them sometime and preferably before the next WC. Why not reward the guys that stayed here such as Philip and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto). I think starting with those two at lock we will lose nothing. Maybe they are young but they are not as young as Topou, HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) or Jordan Pataia and there seems to be fairly consistent support for them all being in the squad.
We lose players to France and Japan because of the cash and the main draw to staying in Australia is to fight for a place with the Wallabies. If we take that away by parachuting in players like Skelton, who jumped for the dough, then why would guys like LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Philip stay. The Giteau law was brought in to allow guys who had paid their dues to get that big payday overseas.
I think if we are to ease the Giteau laws to allow a couple of guys who didn't qualify to play, then go the whole hog say everyone is eligible to play for the Wobs regardless of where they are playing. It will hurt the quality of the Australian comp but it may also save a huge amount of cash, so swings and roundabouts.
There is a bit of a perception at times it seems that just because someone is playing well overseas they must be better than the guys back here. The only thing you can definitively say about the guys playing France is that they are getting paid more. (oh and of course that they are learning how to say "I surrender, I surrender" in a ridiculous accent).
As an aside, Latu concerns me greatly, he has always been a "card just waiting to happen and a couple of extra penalties a game" kind of player.