The contenders in the running to take over as Wallabies head coach
Australia’s dismal World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of England has seen the axe fallen on Michael Cheika, bringing a blunt end to his five-year tenure at the helm of the Wallabies.
His departure as the country’s head coach has left Rugby Australia on a global scout for a replacement, with the selected candidate expected to fill the void by Christmas.
Subsequently, Australian media outlet AAP has conjured a shortlist of potential successors to Cheika, all of whom hold coaching positions at club and international level across the world and would be tasked with reigniting the spark that the Wallabies have seemingly lost since their 2015 World Cup final appearance four years ago.
Continue reading below…
WALLABIES COACH CONTENDERS
Dave Rennie (Glasgow Warriors) – The short-priced favourite. Calm, intelligent, successful at Super Rugby level and shares a close association with Scott Johnson. The seasoned Kiwi coach has committed to seeing out his Glasgow Warriors contract, which finishes in June, 2020, meaning he wouldn’t have long to get his first Wallabies team up to speed.
Eddie Jones (England) – Is said to have support on the Rugby Australia board to return to the job he held from 2001-05. Is contracted with England for another two years but there’s no guarantee he’d see that through given the fickle nature of the post. Jones has intimated he’d consider returning to Australia or even coaching a tier two team but in April opined there should be “generational change” the next time a Wallabies coach is appointed.
Jamie Joseph (Japan) – Boasts the fastest rising stock in the coaching game such has been his impact with Japan at the Rugby World Cup. Speculated as an All Blacks coaching prospect although the tough Kiwi has also made noises about staying on with the Brave Blossoms.
Dan McKellar (Brumbies) – In charge of Australia’s premier Super Rugby team. Had them humming for large parts of 2019 but may need another good year before he enters the international stage.
Scott Wisemantel (England) – Attack consultant with England but has limited head coaching experience. Would be a left field selection and shapes as a more likely assistant.
AAP
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
1 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
3 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
3 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
3 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to comments