Ewen McKenzie’s sensational resignation from the Wallabies coaching job leaves a hole the size of the gulf between the All Blacks and Australia in recent years, with the team now heading into the European Tour and 2015’s Rugby World Cup in shambles. So, who will coach the Wallabies?
With the ARU intending to announce the new coach before the team leaves for Spring Tour on Friday, they don’t have much time to anoint a successor.
Bill Pulver has said that the “Criteria for the role includes identifying a coach who can lead us to victory in next year’s Rugby World Cup; represents Rugby’s core values; has the support of the playing group; and is available,” which makes an interim coach a less likely proposition than a high-profile, available option.
MORE:
» McKenzie’s resignation is a real shocker
» Ewen McKenzie resigns as Wallabies coach
» Pulver slams media after McKenzie exit
Jake White
White was very close to becoming Wallabies coach ahead of Ewen McKenzie when he took over in 2013, with both men offering Super Rugby success with the Brumbies and Reds respectively.
White is available to coach international rugby again in a month, after quitting his post at the Sharks last month and taking up a temporary position with Tonga.
Fairfax claimed this week that White’s management had “made contact with the ARU”, and there were rumours that ARU chairman Michael Hawker sounded out the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame coach. Bill Pulver denied any other coach had been considered before McKenzie walked away.
Michael Cheika or Stephen Larkham, or a combination of both
1991 World Cup-winning Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer has called for current Waratahs coach Michael Cheika and Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham to join Wallabies coaching team in the past week, but without McKenzie to lead, both men are candidates in their own right.
Cheika is unlikely to leave the Waratahs without a number of demands met by the ARU – and that would include management changes in all departments. Cheika’s way is said to be law, which has proven successful for the Waratahs, but may have also seen the demise of former Waratahs CEO, Jason Allen.
‘Bernie’ Larkham is seen by many as a Wallabies coach in waiting, but his apprenticeship has been short. He has coached for less than five years, and has done so in a team, along with Brumbies Director of Rugby Laurie Fisher, and previously under Jake White.
Both men are likely to have been future options, with the Wallabies job coming too soon.
Current Assistants: Andrew Blades or Jim McKay?
Blades is currently serving the second year of his second stint as assistant coach of the Wallabies, having worked in and around the Wallabies and the ARU since 2014, as well as at the Brumbies with Eddie Jones. He may be a low-profile interim coach.
His work with forwards has been highly regarded, but is he the man to take the team to the 2015 World Cup an beyond?
Jim McKay was brought in by Ewen McKenzie, having previously assisted McKenzie with the Queensland Reds. McKay himself had an impressive winning strike rate of over 80 per cent in 14 seasons of coaching across various grades.
A lack of international experience in their own right might weigh on both men’s chances.
Sir Graham Henry
One of the most successful All Blacks coaches of all time, and the one who broke their World Cup streak after 24 years.
Dropping all bias after losses dished out by his sides over so many years, Henry would be fantastic – but is there any reason for him to do it?
Back to the well? Eddie Jones, Bob Dwyer, Alan Jones, Rod Macqueen, or even Robbie Deans?
Previous Wallabies coaches are worth looking at if an interim role is required, which by the ARU’s suggestion it its not.
Eddie Jones suffered health complications while coaching Japan in late 2013, and his status is unknown, with his return to the role not entirely clear. Although he has made significant comments in recent days around the Wallabies coaching role, it wouldn’t appear that he was jostling for the job.
Alan Jones
Jones as recently as two days ago was happy to blast Australian Rugby while speaking at the Weary Dunlop rugby luncheon in Melbourne. The divisive radio personality would bring a huge amount of attention to rugby if he were to step in – and lest we forget his significant record back in the 1980s with the Wallabies. He was open to the idea of coaching the side in 2007, before Robbie Deans took the role.
Rod Macqueen
Coaching from 97-2001, Macqueen’s had close to an 80% winning record with the Wallabie. He more recently took up as the inaugural coach with the Melbourne Rebels, leaving that position in 2011. Macqueen would be given some consideration, but would he want the job?
Bob Dwyer
The 74-year old Dwyer continues to have his say in rugby media and was eyeing off a private-equity bid for the Waratahs in early 2014. As a former World Cup winner, he’s remained active as one of the leading minds in rugby. Dwyer did survive a heart attack in 2013, and may not need the stress of picking up the pieces of the Wallabies.
Robbie Deans
We can safely say that Deans is out – the recent biography of Deans by Matt McIlraith detailed the disillusion he felt at the end of his tenure.
RobC
Roar Guru
Comments were taken off by editors, sport doc. It was pretty bad. Im guessing was written in excitement / spur of the moment. yup. Most stuff on the roar is opinion, many of which is baseless. Im very sure a good portion of my own 5,000+ comments is in that category. That's all fair game But its very different to slandereous and salacious accusations.
RobC
Roar Guru
Wilson Flatley, did you read the comments they wrote? - In case you haven't you might have realised it was removed by the editors, for good reason. - If you did read them, support what they said - then it goes a long way to describe you also. And, Im no moral policeman. Im as bad as as an ordinary person can get. I AM SICK of the level of slander going around. Everything else is fair game. And why don't you let them defend themselves, just as Chan Wee did?
RobC
Roar Guru
re Deans - no sports doc. The situation was different. This situation is radioactive: - There is a clear divide amongst supporters. - There are questions about leadership in ARU at the highest level. - Now, there's more. questions about integrity / stewardship of dual coach position. fallout re Beale decision. Then we're not even talking about pressing matters such as ARU financial viability, and the NRC What I was uncomfortable about between Deans and EM was the transition. - Firstly, the way he was unceremoniously thrown out which was poor form, considering his contributions - Secondly, there was limited (if not zero) handover
RobC
Roar Guru
At least I can start guess where you're from, nameless John
RobC
Roar Guru
exactly
RobC
Roar Guru
Very funny Cadfael. See my comments below
RobC
Roar Guru
ah no, John
RobC
Roar Guru
ChanWee If you didn't notice, or had forgotten. I called you out when I saw your message. http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/10/11/di-patston-quits/
- Right, very shrewd. Suggests if she has indeed falsified she is possibly criminal. For certainty all this is an ARU sidestep. That is a despicable statement aimed at a distressed individual who cannot defend herself. You are the only person on that thread with such targeted baseless insinuations over a person who just lost her job, under unprecedented duress and attackDJJOfficial
Guest
Ahhhhh now Cheika has just gone on the record as being offered the position. How is that source going for you now champ? Haha.
DJJOFFICIAL
Guest
Hi Mike and Shane D, It would certainly be a very unorthodox method of corporate governance for a chief executive officer to not be doing all the talking to a potential new high ranking/profile employee. It certainly wasn't the case with Jon O'Neil and Deans. I don't disagree with your Pulver and McKenzie example, however, there is one difference, Pulver did not go on the record and say that he was talking to McKenzie. But let's say you are right here and it was somebody else, would the CEO of the ARU really go on record to say 'I haven't spoken to anyone' but to imply 'that's not to say somebody else has'. I find that a bit of stretch, particularly in light of Pulver reiterating those comments at the press conference on Sunday.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Problem is that Wallaby supporters & media vilified them for success.
DJJOFFICIAL
Guest
"Bill came out and denied it (meaning of course it must be true and is grounds for embarrassment in a climate where truth and transparency and not highly regarded commodities)… is quite different" Really? And how is it that you know he is not telling the truth? One can only presume that he and others who have gone on the public record are telling the truth. At least the source of my opinion is there for you to scrutinise. The same can't be said for journalists and posters who reference faceless 'sources'. "...I would be inclined to let this play out before I jumped in claiming the moral high ground determining who and who is not embarrassed. Further just because you and a few others agree doesn’t mean everybody does or even need to" That's fine if you want to believe the conjecture or speculation that there is more to the story. I take a different view, the main stakeholders have come out and have contradicted the above. At what point in my posts can can you logically infer that I meant everybody does or needs to agree with me? My point was that I am not alone in my line of thought. "I also imagine you aren’t a journalist." Hard to see how this sentence is relevant. In any event, you are correct, I am not a journalist, but I do work in a profession where arguments and professional opinions are formulated on the facts presented and not hearsay. If you don't think journalists or posters shouldn't be held to the same standard of proof then that is a matter for you and others. I take a different opinion to that, and that is, journalist who compose articles referencing 'sources' which are later contradicted by directly by a relevant stakeholder, should be embarrassed. I know if I were in that position, I would be.
Chivas
Guest
Well DJ, considering you didn't say I feel this would be embarrassing if I found myself in that in that position, but instead stated "This must be embarrassing for you" as Bill came out and denied it (meaning of course it must be true and is grounds for embarrassment in a climate where truth and transparency and not highly regarded commodities)... is quite different. I would be inclined to let this play out before I jumped in claiming the moral high ground determining who and who is not embarrassed. Further just because you and a few others agree doesn't mean everybody does or even need to. I also imagine you aren't a journalist.
BetterRedThanDead
Guest
....and lost your sense of humour :)
HiKa
Roar Rookie
When posting quoted material you really should include a link to the source or at the very least note where you got it. Not doing so can be a violation of copyright which is something the guys running this site would prefer posters avoid so the site can continue providing everyone with a rugby group therapy venue.
Conzaroo
Guest
It was also 15metres from the mark where the ruck penalty was given
Justthetip
Roar Pro
Your awesome
Jimbo
Guest
Well done Aus media/supporters, well done. Been a reader of the Roar for a good 6-7 years at least, probably longer, and not felt the need to post given the strong level of debate, and managed to bite my toungue through some pretty ridiculous posts as well as the Deans era! But this is a new low for Aus rugby in my opinion. Leave aside the Reds v Tahs v Brumbies opinions, in Ewen we had a coach who finally, once again in my opinion, seemed to be moving our team back towards the days of playing good footy and being hard working and focussed on rebuilding our brand. You can debate that but I've seen a return of the DNA in the team last year that made me love the sport in the first place. Name the last coach that made the team connect with the public as much as Ewen. Like him or not, he was straight forward with his approach and tried his guts out. Reading Ewen's announcement is like a punch in the guts; my post might not read as well as I would like but the anger and disbelief is influencing me and quite fresh. I have watched every Wallabies test match since 2000 and applied for a number of tickets in the ballot for RWC. Based on the way Ewen has been treated and the result, I don't think it's worth the support backing the team right now or bothering going. Will hopefully feel differently next week, but this has been a terrible few weeks as a die hard supporter. For the rugby writers, we're following our nations team, let's try sticking to the facts, not gossip, and backing our national coach. Maybe we should look to our more successful cousins and learn that supporting our team is important, regardless of the provincial team we support. Rant over - along with my support, until next week, hopefully if I can muster the strength to bounce back from this one.
Justthetip
Roar Pro
Bingo
Justthetip
Roar Pro
Yeah Support him. Not state what he thinks the outcome should be. He's not the school principal. That's probably what we need tho. Give kurtley the cane, he seems to be a bad influence. Didn't he punch out his captain a few years back?