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.
rl
Guest
Haven't you learnt from KPM's humbling experience? What I would give to see McKenzie jump on and respond to your claim. Cue more awkward backpedalling. STU, a word to the wise: you don't speak for this roar-er. I'm not disenchanted. Quite the opposite - the QRU is finally running like a successful organisation with a long term view. Having recovered from a parlous on and off field state 3 years ago (with thanks to JON and the ARU administration for stepping in), they have seen the writing on the wall - McKenzie won't be around forever, regardless of the Wallabies coaching situation. Having chosen a preferred successor (regardless of what we might think about the merits of that successor), they have opted to give him maximum exposure to the current successful coach and his methods, rather than the well-worn path of watching that IP simply walk out the door. Makes a nice change from the Reds approach post-Knuckles.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Tristan sign him up before he vanishes again....
nomis
Guest
Well said kingplaymaker about being careful with our comments. I think that's important no matter who's watching.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
STU the more expert views the better, as they are all quite different from each other.
STU
Guest
KPM; yes it would be great to have wayne smiths views on the roar because an experts view is valuable.also roarers appear a little disenchanted with the slimey political nature of mckenzies old boy connections to wrestle the wallaby coaching job off deans.DEANS has quite rightly got his critics but he fronts and doesnt duck and weave like some.Im picking this incestuous nepotism at the ARU,QRU will be the death of any upsurge in rugby and start the rot as more details come to the surface.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
It's a good lesson for me that comments made on websites are to be made seriously and not thrown off lightly and wrongly. Having ventured onto here though Mr Smith why not return? I'm sure the Roar editors would be delighted to have an expert article with your perspective, and on sites such as this the experts are able to be freer than in newspapers and write articles on whatever they're thinking rather than being constrained by what's in the news.
Wayne Smith
Guest
Thanks KPM. Much appreciated. And now, Roarers, if I may, I'll withdraw from the fray. I was probably feeling a little antsy because of the way the West Indiians were batting here in Port of Spain but then Nathan Lyon came along and made the day a whole lot brighter.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Just a note Roarers, this is confirmed as Wayne Smith. Thanks - Tristan (Ed.)
nomis
Guest
Shhh! We don't want to scare them off by blowing their cover.
Garryown
Guest
Queensland were supposed to be broke, if so, how come they suddenly have the money for a director of coaching and a full time team coach. Graham has not been a success with Force and doesn't qualify on results for the position and the Links has only won one trophy so doesn't earn a privileged run into being the coach of the Wallabies particularly after his performance with the Reds this year. With the gossip that Cooper could not be playing for the Reds next year as he is chasing more money , the Link should be staying there to prove he can win with somebody else. Under Deans more players have been given a chance to prove themselves able to play for Australia and we are No 2 Nation so its time the bitching about him stopped
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
nomis today two or three new posters have appeared from nowhere strongly defending Robbie Deans, when almost no one would before, curiously enough at the very moment he seems most threatened. Who are they and what's behind this..
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
nomis I've missed them since the Australian went behind a paywall but maybe the Roar should lure him as an expert as his perspective was quite individual and very much worth reading.
nomis
Guest
I think it's fair to say that Wayne Smith has also been an advocate of increasing the depth of the Australian talent pool thru some sort of ARC. I miss reading his articles for the Australian
The Bush
Roar Guru
I can only assume he means "Afrikaans", as in Afrikaaners (in this context, I assume he is unaware that Afrikaans is also the predominant language spoken amongst the Coloured community in South Africa, of which, ironically, De Villiers is a member of).
nomis
Guest
Cue shifting eyes and horror music in the background
nomis
Guest
I'm outside Qld, and I don't know it. Qld were the best team in 2011.
mania
Guest
BBB - safest time to face the stormers isnt now
STU
Guest
YES,BBB,WHEN THERE TWO BEST PLAYERS ARE OUT INJURED
STU
Guest
OJ,faite compli.more to do with anothers tenure i would proffer.
STU
Guest
KPM,you are on to it KING,thats exactly what mckenzie is doing.transparent one would think and self serving as RG departure.A combination born in heaven doomed for hell.