How Tahs’ Dan McKellar responded to question about Wallabies chat

His steely focus firmly on the NSW Waratahs, Dan McKellar is refusing to express any interest in coaching the Wallabies.

Not publicly, anyway.

After narrowly missing out last year, when Rugby Australia opted for Joe Schmidt to take over from Eddie Jones, McKellar looms as an obvious – and leading – candidate to replace the New Zealander after this year’s Rugby Championship.

McKellar, though, insists he has had no discussions with RA despite Queensland mentor Less Kiss on Wednesday saying it was common knowledge the governing body had met with all four Australian Super Rugby coaches.

“Have we? That’s news to me,” McKellar said after putting the Waratahs through a gruelling training session on Thursday despite having a bye this weekend.

“I haven’t spoken to ‘Kissy’ in a couple of months but, no, honestly, I’m just cracking on and worrying about the Waratahs.”

McKellar was named as an assistant to Jones before quitting and taking up the head coach at Leicester in the English Premiership last season.

Many viewed his walk-out as a sign of being disgruntled at being overlooked for Schmidt.

Regardless, the 48-year-old former Brumbies Super Rugby AU title-winning coach evolved further during his stint in the UK.

“I think every day in this sort of environment you get better,” McKellar said.

“You learn. We learn off the back (the Waratahs’ last-gasp win over the Highlanders) on Friday night and certainly learn plenty in the UK.

“There’s a lot of things there that happened over the course of that period which you’ll be a better coach, better person, better husband, better dad for, and that’s all really important.

“The reality is most of that I can’t talk to you about, but yeah, I certainly feel like a better coach for any experience.”

Michael Cheika, who coached Australia from 2014 to 2019 and is also in the mix for a return, once said if he was ever offered the Wallabies job he could never turn it down.

McKellar says that’s not necessarily his mindset.

“I’m not expecting to be offered the Wallabies job,” he said.

“I’m at the Waratahs. That’s ‘Cheik’s’ answer. Mine’s obviously different.”

Despite the Waratahs having a round-two bye this weekend, McKellar put his charges through a gruelling training session on Thursday in readiness for a physical encounter with the Fijian Drua on Friday week in Sydney.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was a conspicuous absentee from training but the coach said the superstar signing was “all good”.

“No, Joe’s fine. Sometimes you’ve got to put the Ferraris in the garage,” McKellar said.

All four Australian sides won their season openers last weekend for the first time since 2001, but McKellar reckons it’s far too early to get carried away and talking about ending New Zealand’s two-decade-long dominance in the competition.

“It’s good to get some momentum early on and see the interest is growing again in Super Rugby – and that’s fantastic,” he said.

“That’s really important to fans, spectators, stakeholders, players and coaches, but it’s round one.

“Let’s see how we’re going in 10 weeks. I don’t like referring to the New Zealand teams or Australian teams. They’re just the ‘opposition’.

“I’d like to think that we’ll be in a position where, if we play well, then we can beat anyone.”