The most famous American rugby player just got dismissed from the US national team, and it’s OK to feel conflicted about it.

From what we can infer from team statements, there have been issues between Todd Clever and team management for some time; Mike Tolkin seemed on the verge of changing the captaincy a couple of times in the last few years, so maybe the current upheavals shouldn’t be a surprise. That doesn’t stop many fans from thinking, “Wait, what? They sent Clever – Todd Clever?! – home? How do they think that’s a good idea?”

Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Anyone who has been on a rugby team has likely been in a situation where one of the best players is difficult to like. Or you’ve been on a team where the coach and a top player don’t see eye-to-eye. Or you’ve been on a team where the coach appears to play favorites, or has one set of rules for most players and another set for a select few. It’s never good, and in the end, things get better when one source of the conflict leaves.

We’ve all seen the team suffer because of personalities, and here’s what, instead of speculating, I can feel confident in saying – the USA coaching staff thought the team would be better off as a unit without Todd Clever on it. Hey, they might well be wrong, but in a World Cup Year more than any other time, national team coaches get really touchy about a team’s chi. Leading into the World Cup, the team always turns inward, trying to get rid of distractions and create a cohesive unit with one purpose.

If Clever was going to leave the team, then right now, after the first game of an 11-game season, would be the time.

I have some other observations about this move, some seemingly at odds with each other. As I said, it’s OK to feel conflicted.

No One Player Will Make a Difference

Speaking on Todd Clever specifically, he is replaceable. If I’m picking the team right now I’d put Hayden Smith and Scott LaValla at second row, Samu Manoa at No. 8 (I know he’s with Toulon right now and will miss the next few games, but for the World Cup he’s my No. 8), with Danny Barrett and Cam Dolan at 7 and 6, respectively. I could put John Quill in there, too, and I feel good about the backups. That starting group will do great, and I don’t think replacing one of them with Todd Clever will make an appreciable difference.

Further out, I don’t think any one player on the USA team will make or break their fortunes. Realistically, I look for the USA to finish the year around 5-6 or 4-7, with an outside chance to go something like 7-4 and perhaps go 3-1 in the World Cup (1-3 or 2-2 much more likely). The factors that turn some of those losses to wins aren’t down to any one player; they will be down to excellent or middling team play.

Todd Clever is a Game-Changer

Clever can run, is a physical defender, and is a lineout weapon. He has scored more tries than any USA forward, ever. He can turn bad ball into a try-scoring opportunity. He’s an opportunist. He’s played against the best from South Africa and Japan (both in the USA’s pool) and performed. He has been on the international stage for over 10 years. Turning away that level of experience and ability is risky.

You Got to Have Rules

Mike Tolkin tested Clever. He took away the captaincy and gave it to Chris Wyles, and in doing so wanted to see if Clever would respond positively or negatively. It’s possible Tolkin had a specific expectation there, but in the end, Clever broke some pretty important rules – in the middle of camp, as they were getting ready to play against Samoa, he missed two sessions.

One was the day after the ESPYs awards show. The ESPYs were on a team day off, and with Clever being in the ESPN The Magazine Body Issue, he attended the event. But Clever didn’t get back to camp in time for the Thursday morning session – why is unclear. So he got a warning; a message that another such miss would mean he’d be sent home.

On Saturday morning, Clever missed another session, and that was it. A coach, once he’s given an ultimatum, has to back that up. He or she has no choice. It’s what players want and expect.

Some years ago when I was coaching, I made a mistake and trusted the players I took to a tournament with too much freedom. Most behaved as I wanted them to, but two did not, and once I found out what they’d been up to, I dismissed them from the team. The following season, I had my best recruiting year ever. Why? Because word got around that I, as a coach, walked the walk as well as talked the talk.

I imagine that the USA players probably have had a similar reaction to Clever’s dismissal.

Doesn’t He Deserve Another World Cup?

Doesn’t Todd Clever deserve to hang on into the 2015 Rugby World Cup? It would be his fourth (although he didn’t get to play in 2003). The player who has captained the USA the most times, the first American Super Rugby player, the one fans recognize around the world, should be there, no?

Look at what I said above. Coaches get very concerned about team unity going into a World Cup. If there is a problem, the next three months and 11 games is a lot to get through while pretending the problem isn’t there.

No player deserves to play in the World Cup just because. And with someone of Todd Clever’s stature, what do you do with him? If he’s on the squad, doesn’t he need to start? If you’ve got a coach-player problem, does putting the player on the bench help it?

I am not taking sides here. I think Todd Clever has been a fabulous and groundbreaking player for the United States, and I picked him Player of the Year several times. I think he’s funny, and a deep thinker in his more contemplative moments. I think Mike Tolkin is as smart a coach as the USA has had, and they’ve had some smart ones. He cares deeply about American rugby and has proven that with his actions over the years. If Tolkin makes a decision, he has analyzed it to the Nth degree.

I would like to think that there’s a scenario where Todd Clever comes back to the Eagles. This probably involves some sort of public statement, and also some sort of statement to the team as a whole. It would also involve a healed relationship between Tolkin and Clever specifically.

I am not sure that’s going to happen, but I hope it does. The World Cup – Clever’s desire to play in it, and Tolkin’s desire to win games at it – could be the healing salve they need.