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The administrative careers of ARU chairman Michael Hawker and CEO Bill Pulver could well be defined this week.
Both are quality with impressive commercial backgrounds at home and overseas, with Hawker a former Wallaby on top.
But the ARU is under the pump, and it will need all of their expertise to stop the rot.
Wallaby rugby lost its way on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium with the 41-16 hammering by the Lions. That was not the time for the men-in-gold to turn in a shocker with 83,706 avid fans from both teams filling the stands.
Having paid top dollar, they expected, and deserved, an epic series-decider, only to see one-way Lions traffic.
Even before the dust settled, the Melbourne Rebels announced yesterday they will not renew James O’Connor’s contract.
Today, Hawker and Pulver must make their move – and it has to be positive.
Over the years the ARU has been adept at sweeping anything contentious under the carpet, in the forlorn hope the problem will go away.
Thankfully, that is not the Hawker-Pulver way.
Heading the agenda will be how to handle the shock O’Connor sacking – and the Wallaby coaching job.
O’Connor has nobody but himself to blame. Like Kurtley Beale, and Quade Cooper, the three amigos have run out of rope with their alleged off-field antics.
Are they worth saving?
Of course they are, the ARU has a duty of care, but the line must be drawn in the sand. Step over it once more, and there’s the exit door.
Robbie Deans?
If the rugby public had it’s say, Deans is gone as Wallaby coach, and either Ewen McKenzie or Jake White must be appointed.
But how will Hawker-Pulver react to Deans’ position and future?
That’s what we should find out, the sooner the better for all parties – and today would be the ideal time.
There’s no doubt Hawker and Pulver would have discussed Deans’ position long before now, depending on how the Wallabies fared against the Lions.
Now the result is known, so too should those earlier discussions surface.
Does Deans stay on until the end of the year when his contract expires, or will either McKenzie or White take over immediately to be given as much time as possible to prepare for the four-nation Rugby Championship that kicks off in a month.
That produces another hurdle, with White contracted to the Brumbies until 2015, and he’s at the business end of coaching them to their first Super title in a decade.
Would the ARU entertain another non-Australian Wallaby coach, even though he has a Rugby World Cup with the Boks heading his CV?
But McKenzie is Australian and unencumbered, having officially handed over the Reds’ coaching job to Richard Graham.
That all adds up to the fly on the wall of the ARU bunker at St Leonards having plenty to listen to this week.
MORE – via AAP -ARU chief executive Bill Pulver said later on Sunday that he won’t be rushing into a decision on Deans’ future.
“There has been a lot of emotion and comment expressed from various areas since last night’s Test and we will not be entering into any speculation or debate on the coaching issue at this stage,” said Pulver.