The timing of Ewen McKenzie’s resignation could not have come at a worse time for the ARU. They were caught unprepared and consequently rushed to a poorly thought-out and negotiated resolution.
In the professional era there’s a reason every other nation has a dedicated head coach at national level. It is not a part-time job.
Perceptions of bias need to be eliminated. All potential players need to feel they have equal opportunities. No split loyalties etc. The current head coaching arrangements ensure none of that.
It’s untenable. It’s unworkable. ARU need to re-consider their priorities. Urgently.
On one hand they have agreed to allow Michael Cheika to remain contracted to the NSWRU-Waratahs to fulfil his current contract and concentrate upon a full Super Rugby season – a season where the Waratahs will defend their Super Rugby title.
You could argue this will be an extraordinarily intense and difficult season. But, in my experience, it’s always best to approach every season with the same intensity.
On the other hand the ARU are suffering financial woes and regard the national team, the Wallabies, as their primary source of revenue, the pinnacle of the game in the country. The Wallabies are within one Super Rugby season of competing at the Rugby World Cup. The best way to increase value in the Wallabies brand and attract greater attendances at future Wallaby’s matches, and additional sponsorship, is to win the Rugby World Cup.
Previously, the ARU had insisted that their number one priority was the Wallabies and Rugby World Cup. The current Head coach decision and arrangements give the impression that the ARU has compromised Wallaby Rugby World Cup preparations in favour of the Waratah Super title defence.
The decision is that Cheika will remain as the Waratahs’ full-time coach throughout the Super Rugby season and perform the role of Wallabies coach in a part-time capacity, until the Super campaign finishes. I am assuming here that he cannot perform two full-time roles simultaneously.
In other words, the logical inference seems to be that NSWRU interests have trumped ARU interests. And that the ARU priorities have changed with the Waratahs now becoming the ARU’s number one priority, replacing the Wallabies.
The poor performances of the Wallaby team on the 2014 end of year tour, the worst performance in 10 tours, seems to indicate this arrangement needs to be reviewed. The performances have revealed that much work is required at Wallaby level. I don’t think inducting Stephen Larkham from his first season as full-time head coach at the Brumbies (again on a part-time basis) makes a lot of sense either, but other Roarers might disagree with me.
If Michael Cheika is to be paid to be responsible for the Wallabies and their preparation for and performances at the Rugby World Cup he needs to be more specifically, and independently, involved and responsible on a full-time basis prior to the Rugby World Cup. Can any other approach be justified?
Unless the ARU has concluded the Rugby World Cup is a lost cause and has already thrown in the towel!
formeropenside
Guest
I want Cheika gone as Wallaby coach too - too tarred by the Beale incident - but I will wait for RWC 2015 failure before I call for his head. I cant wait to read Link's book. I just wish he'd write faster.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Moreton. Lets hope it happens soon.
Moreton Bait
Roar Pro
Yes I think so too grapeseed. Most level-headed Roarers I think really want Michael Cheika to take control of the Wallabies and sort out the mess before the RWC.
grapeseed
Guest
Good article. I would suggest the tide has turned significantly on this issue, and most agree now that this decision made in haste and written on the back of a coaster needs to be reviewed.
Jamie
Guest
Enough doom and gloom! Bring on SR, World Cup and everything else
Moreton Bait
Roar Pro
Yep, good point GD. That's another scenario that could bite the ARU on the posterior!
balotelli
Guest
Its a strange arrangement which i am certain will result in a split changing room very soon,the pro Waratahs vs the rest of Australia.. If for example a player like Cooper perfoms well in SR and for some reason Foley gets picked,that situation can turn nasty in no time.... Favouratism real or perceived is going to be a feature in this arrangement as the Wallabies team management is synonimous with the Waratahs management.. Now this seems straightfoward to me this is a toxic set up
selwyn
Guest
get jake white and all ur problems sre solved.
GD
Guest
"Unless the ARU has concluded the Rugby World Cup is a lost cause and has already thrown in the towel!" You may be right about this! The Wallabies are a long shot in 2015 by anyone's measure. Perhaps the ARU has decided that financially, the hype of the Warratahs potentially going back-to-back in the S15 is not worth sacrificing for the sake of a doomed from the start World Cup campaign? The flip side is that perhaps Cheikas split duty will hamper both campaigns, and at the end of 2015 we will be left with the Australian S15 teams littering the bottom of the S15 table & the Wallabies dumped out in the pool stages of the World Cup... I wonder what the ARU accountants have to say about that scenario?