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There’s every hint ARU boss John O’Neill is behind Richard Graham’s move from coaching the Force to being the Reds assistant coach to Ewen McKenzie next year.
There’s little doubt McKenzie has been already been inked in as the new Wallaby coach from 2014, unless incumbent Robbie Deans does something spectacular over the next two seasons and wins both the Bledisloe Cup, and the Tri-Nations, twice.
But the way most of the senior Wallabies are playing at the moment, those chances are none and Buckleys.
Not that Deans will be too upset.
He hasn’t said it, but he still habours a deep yearning to coach the All Blacks, a job he should have won in 2007 but lost out to Graham Henry, since retired after capturing the Rugby World Cup and a knighthood.
Richard Graham will finish up with the Force at season’s end to return home to where he played for the Reds from 1998 to 2002.
This will be a huge coaching promotion for Graham, who has done a sterling job with the Force. And he’s earned the chance to show his worth in a far stronger franchise.
But the bigger picture is Ewen McKenzie.
According to yesterday’s announcement, he will take over as Queenland’s director of coaching in 2014, leaving Graham with hands-on control of the Reds.
This will be a far more amicable and workable transition than the Mick Malthouse-Nathan Buckley fiasco at Collingwood.
Even so, the director of coaching position is just a smokescreen. Barring a major upheaval, McKenzie will be Wallaby coach by then.
But first things first.
McKenzie has some major upheavals within the Reds to correct right now if they are to defend their Super title, starting with the Stormers next round at Suncorp.
It’s a good time to catch the second-placed Stormers on the overall tournament ladder after suffering their first loss of the season to the Crusaders 31-24 at Christchurch last week.
Forget the scoreline, it was the eight successful penalty goals from Tom Taylor that has made the Stormers angry and vulnerable. And the Reds have their red army at Suncorp for very vocal support.
This will be a must win for the Reds, trailing the Brumbies by three points in the Australian Conference. There’s little doubt the only Australian team to make the six-team playoffs will be the Australian Conference winner.
After the Stormers, the Reds have the Blues at Eden Park, the Crusaders at Christchurch, the Chiefs and Lions at Suncorp, the Brumbies at Canberra and then the bye in week 15.
If the Reds aren’t well on top of the Australian Conference by then with three rounds to go, you can bet the nigglers will be busy questioning McKenzie’s pending appointment as Wallaby coach.
That’s rugby.
They can niggle all they like. Ewen McKenzie is in the red at roughly 40-1 on to take over.