Northern | US

'There's going to be casualties' - Aussie pundit tips RA changes

Australia coach Michael Cheika. Photo / Getty Images
Comments
Comment

Australian rugby pundit Greg Growden believes that Rugby Australia should look to New Zealand in search of a new head coach, and is tipping wholesale changes after current coach Michael Cheika meets with the board later this month.

During an appearance on New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB, Growden expressed his thoughts on the Wallabies’ coaching situation.

“I think there’s going to be casualties, and a lot of people are hoping it’s going to be Cheika,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He’s in a bit of strife and I think no matter what there will be some changes. If he doesn’t go, I think you’ll see some of the assistant coaches or some of the management team go.

“There’s been some people pushing for Cheika, but some people in Rugby Australia who haven’t been so keen and have been saying it’s time for a change.”

Cheika is set to meet with the board on Monday but Growden said Rugby Australia likely won’t make any announcements until later.

Growden suggested that if Rugby Australia decide to part ways with Cheika, New Zealand coaches should line up for the role.

“Why not look at Dave Rennie or Scott Robertson or another New Zealand coach?”, he said. “There is a bit of animosity towards New Zealand coaches here after Robbie Deans experiment, but Scott Johnson could do it with a couple of people here, could get Brad Thorn involved…there are options and there are quite a number of capable Australian coaches coaching overseas at the moment.

“There are some Australian coaches, but surely there are some New Zealand coaches who would want the challenge of coaching the Wallabies. It’s not a bad job because they can’t get much worse.”

The Wallabies are coming off their worst season in the professional era, where they recorded just four wins.

In other news:

Video Spacer

Stream Nations Championship 2026 LIVE

Hemispheres collide in the new Nations Championship. Stream live, replays and highlights free on RugbyPass TV.

Watch on RPTV
Starts 4th July 2026 - USA only.
ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

Comments on RugbyPass

P
Phantom 32 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.



...

14 Go to comments
Close Panel
Close Panel

Edition & Time Zone

{{current.name}}
Set time zone automatically
{{selectedTimezoneTitle}} (auto)
Choose a different time zone
Close Panel

Editions

Close Panel

Change Time Zone

Copied to clipboard

Share Article close