Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie is spending the opening five months of 2014 as Wallabies chief executive – restructuring operations and reducing costs.
In his first full year after replacing Robbie Deans, McKenzie has revealed he’s running Australia’s Test team “like a business” to help boost the finally embattled code.
He’ll take up his first training session on June 2 – five days before the opening Test against France – but before then the analytical, pragmatic mentor is running a fine-toothed comb over all facets of the team to make operations more efficient.
“Everything I can possibly look at from the budget forwards,” McKenzie told AAP.
“It’s a big business. The team is a big economic engine so it attracts a fair bit of revenue and fair bit of cost to manage.
“I’m across everything so I run it like a business.”
The Australian Rugby Union will announce the changes to the Wallabies organisations, operations and Test preparations in the coming weeks.
Among them are new training venues – including a base at the Gold Coast’s Sanctuary Cove before the opening June 7 Test – and travel plans.
McKenzie had declared after last September’s record 38-12 loss to South Africa in Brisbane that he’d leave no stone unturned in making the improvements required to put the Wallabies back at the top of the game.
Demoting his Queensland Reds favourites Will Genia and James Horwill was only the start of the big calls, which continued on the European tour with a focus on team culture by suspending six players for late-night boozing.
The restructuring has also helped bankroll the new National Rugby Championship, which needs to be financially sustainable to survive as a much-needed third-tier competition.
“We have to be realistic and responsible,” McKenzie said. “There’s other things going on in the game we have to do.”
ARU chief executive officer Bill Pulver praised the Wallabies coach in late 2013 for proactively reducing costs.
With 14 Tests, plus a Barbarians match at the start of the end-of-year European tour, McKenzie is well pleased with the competition for Wallaby spots in Super Rugby and expects a tough time selecting a squad in May.
But his planning – set out all the way to next year’s World Cup in England – doesn’t extend to a proposed hybrid game against the Great Britain rugby league team in December in London.
mikeylives
Guest
Pretty confident we will take both an AB and SA scalp this year. Has nothing to do with averages - rather, the team is shaping up a lot better than it has in other years.
richard
Guest
Well,the law of averages says you have to win eventually.Especially since you play NZ more than any other team.
Rebel
Guest
Not needed
Combesy
Roar Guru
typical from Rob G. All negative, all tripe, no positive contribution and no answer to how he'd do it better
Combesy
Roar Guru
AIBO we still hold the tri-nations!! don't forget that!
abc
Guest
He will beat them this year.
AlBo
Guest
That they do. Go the 'Victs.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
or even the hills at the back of Boronia, Shop !
Shop
Guest
Caloundra? That's luxury Biggest. I'd have them doing hill sprints at Ryde International, whilst camping on the bottom oval.
Rob G
Guest
Typical from Mckenzie. All chat. Still yet to beat NZ, South Africa or England.
Tissot Time
Guest
The Convicts hold the Bingham Cup and will defend it in Australia.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The biggest ego departed Office over a year ago, there should be much more space now !
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
If memory serves correctly the foyers still pretty big. If not there then the trophy cabinet would have enough space. (I know that's a rather evil joke for an Aussie to make but I wanted to get in before our cheeky Saffa and Kiwi cousins did :))
BL
Guest
AlBo But by decreasing the ARU Bunker office space by half - just where will all the heads and Ego's fit ?
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
They've actually decreased the office size by half, dropping from two levels of the building to just one.
Johnno
Guest
Love it all about the KPI'S Link. Billy and you get on well i see, Bill Pulver loves KPI'S. Haven't the ARU increased there office at St Leonards.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I'd hardly call staying at Sanctuary Cove a cost cutting measure ! What about the modest digs at Caloundra the Wallabies stayed at under Macqueen in the late 90's.