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Report: Michael Cheika's fate decided after board meeting


Australia coach Michael Cheika. Photo / Getty Images
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According to reports, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika will keep his job despite Australian rugby suffering through their worst international season in 60 years.

The Daily Telegraph revealed on Thursday night that Cheika will remain with the team, but former Wallabies assistant Scott Johnson will join the setup in a role above Cheika before next year’s Rugby World Cup.

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The Telegraph said an announcement would be made confirming the news next week.

Johnson was an assistant with the Wallabies for their 2007 World Cup campaign, but has not coached since 2014 when he was in charge of Scotland on an interim basis and is reportedly more interested in an advisory role.

Cheika met with the Rugby Australia board on Monday and chairman Cameron Clyne said a decision would come before Christmas in a brief press conference.

“We obviously received a presentation from Michael Cheika and we’re going through a process, so I’m not really in a position to elaborate,” Clyne said.

Cheika has not made any comments since returning home.

The 51-year-old has been in charge of the Australian national side since 2014, taking over for Ewen McKenzie just one year out from the Rugby World Cup, where he eventually led the side to the final.

Cheika began his coaching career in Italy before returning home to Australia to coach his former club Randwick. He oversaw Leinster in Ireland and Stade Francais in France between 2005 and 2012 before again returning to Australia, winning a Super Rugby title with the New South Wales Waratahs in 2014.

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Phantom 37 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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