Injured Wallabies captain Stephen Moore has called for the Australian Rugby Union to hold their nerve and keep the faith in under-fire coach Ewen McKenzie.
Assisting top ARU officials in establishing a new management structure that will help McKenzie better focus on his coaching responsibilities, Moore stressed now wasn’t the time for another coaching change.
The 92-Test hooker, sidelined after his June knee reconstruction, believes the Wallabies can overcome their current turmoil and still succeed at next year’s World Cup.
“History is littered with coaches who go through a tough period and when they get the support they come out the other end and achieve really good things,” Moore told Fox Sports Rugby HQ program.
Waratahs coach Michael Cheika, who took NSW to this year’s Super Rugby title, and Springboks World Cup-winning mentor Jake White have both been rumoured as instant replacements should Australia suffer another demoralising defeat to the All Blacks on Saturday night.
Influential board members are upset with McKenzie as the Wallabies, and the code, have suffered for the sad state of affairs surrounding Kurtley Beale’s misconduct allegations.
But Moore cautioned against appointing a second new coach in 15 months – after Robbie Deans held the post for six seasons.
“When Queensland was going well everyone was saying Ewen should take Robbie’s job, and when Jake was going well (with the Brumbies) it was Jake should take Robbie’s job and now Link (McKenzie) is on the receiving end as well,” the Brumbies rake said.
“These things go in swings and roundabouts but I think now Ewen should get all the support he can get.”
Moore’s comments come as Wallabies vice-captain James Slipper said the playing group felt responsible for the results pressure McKenzie was under.
After going unbeaten for eight Tests, leading into their last Bledisloe clash, the coach’s record now stands at 52 per cent.
Moore met with leading ARU officials Ben Whitaker and Phil Thomson this week and is taking recommendations from players to help frame the “optimum” management structure following the departure of business manager Di Patston.
“It’s to help Link now to establish a framework around him that’s going to help us having success, not only beat the All Blacks this weekend but consistent success,” he said.
While current skipper Michael Hooper has voiced strong support for Beale, whose future is in grave doubt for distributing lewd messages about Patston, Moore spoke out for the former staffer – who has also been subjected to questions about her relationship with McKenzie.
“What Di has had to go through is very disappointing,” he said.
“No one should have to go through that … and as a player I feel very disappointed that that’s happened.”
Pita
Guest
Thanks Gaz.
Garry Edwards
Guest
Well said and so perceptive Pita- good one matey.
Ball'n'all
Guest
What does that have to do with the current situation? It proves nothing. Typical of your weak arguments. X happened yesterday therefore X must happen today is not very persuasive.
Ball'n'all
Guest
So the wallabies lost confidence in em and his management structure because he was too soft on them? That doesn't sound right. Specifics please.
Pita
Guest
Mckenzie will resign after the test, mark my words.
Chivas
Guest
....that you are aware of in your expert opinion.
Garry Edwards
Guest
Steve' y I've held you in high regard always have now you disappoint me. When the ARU from the top down get some sack and make some hard nose decisions, for the betterment of the game for the spectators and viewers i.e. get the right people in the correct positions, select an unbiased coach, have the coaching staff select the players for the correct positions, throw out the boys club culture and have each player awarded the guernsey on merit then maybe Australian rugby will no longer be the very poor 4th cousin in sport. Now that may mean dissolving the ARU as it is, hell so be it because quite frankly what are they doing deflecting flack and going to ground, certainly not manning up to reality. And so too with the coaching staff, can the lot and introduce some integrity some honesty -some men, a real coaching staff, not ones that creates a buddy system or a suck up culture because as we've seen in the past right up until it producers losers, nothing more and the public and sponsors gives the losers a huge body swerve. A quality player doesn't need to go in and bat for the coach a good coach doesn't need players to back him up that's degradation.
Monday's Expert
Guest
Oddly enough she served, was it 5 years?, in the Reds camp and no issues...Perhaps there really is a problem in the Wallabies playing group.
Ronaldo
Guest
History is also riddled with coaches who did not make it. Unfortunately coaches who think it's all about them make up a large portion of those who failed. The clean out needs to start with the ARU. To convince me otherwise they need to have both McKenzie & the lady available for testing at the integrity hearing. There is a complete lack of transparency on the part of the ARU. McKenzie brought this lady into the Wallaby set up. The following is from Spiro's article in the SMH today; ..... quote; "The unleashing of player power by all these Wallabies, in actively participating in an ugly dispute between a player and an official, will have to be addressed fairly and openly by the ARU. I say "openly" because the ARU's handling of the Beale/Patston crisis has been anything but open. We still do not know the provenance of Ms Patston's credentials. The ARU says that as she is no longer within the organisation the matter is irrelevant. Nonsense. These credentials need to be published before the Code of Conduct inquiry into Beale's behaviour is held. It is impossible to find (or it was for me on Google) a list of the senior ARU management and their qualifications. But Google "Darren Shand, manager of the All Blacks" and up comes a list of the seven senior NZRU managers and their qualifications for their jobs." unquote. McKenzie's role in this needs to be explained. Further obfuscation from Bill Pulver is not acceptable.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Kuruki is right, there is way to much baggage with Link now. A fresh start with Larkham and Cheika is Austs only hope to get some momentum for the world cup. EM is too soft on this wallaby squad. They need tough love.
Realist
Guest
Personal agenda? Do tell.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
If all the speculation is true then Link has put his personal agenda ahead of the teams he should get marched. Cut out all the rot and start again. The world cup dream is already over imo. South Africa, England and New Zealand are all fine tuning, the Wallabies still don't know what's under the hood.