Former Test hooker Brendan Cannon says if coach Michael Cheika keeps his job Rugby Australia need to immediately appoint an independent selector to help arrest the slide of the Wallabies.
There are growing calls for RA to sack Cheika after the Australian team’s latest loss to England, which brings their record to just four wins from 13 Tests this year.
The RA board is reportedly meeting on December 10 for another performance review, with the 2019 World Cup in Japan looming.
Cannon says Cheika can continue as coach but his power needs to be reined in.
“There needs to be a change in the structure and support mechanisms behind him,” Cannon says.
“What’s failed is that he’s been allowed to have too much control and that influences selection.
“There needs to be a former player brought in to be a chairman of a selection panel.”
Cannon, who has worked until recently as a rugby commentator, says Cheika’s team selections have been “bewildering”.
He believed constant changes were having a negative impact on the players, who he felt were trying their best.
Cannon, who played 42 Tests, said he knew how the current crop were feeling, comparing it to the 2005 spring tour.
Then, Australia only won one Test (against Ireland) from four on the tour and coach Eddie Jones was sacked.
He felt players were “choking on stress”.
“You try harder, you train harder and do everything you can but you can’t escape the external pressure that just keeps closing in on you as a playing group,” the 45-year-old said.
“Some of the skill levels of some of the really good players in the Australian side have started to fail and they’re making uncharacteristic mistakes but I can clearly see they are playing with an anxiety and fear.”
Cannon said Scott Johnson, currently Scotland director of rugby, was his favoured candidate to coach the Wallabies should the board decide Cheika must go.
World Cup-winning former Springboks and Brumbies coach Jake White has also been mentioned.
“He’s one of the smartest rugby brains I’ve ever been exposed to,” Cannon said of Johnson.
Another ex-Wallaby, Matt Burke, doesn’t believe Cheika will lose his job because of the support he has within RA.
“Cheika survives because he has the run of the mill at the Australian Rugby Union,” Burke told Big Sports Breakfast.
“There will be a review but he has total autonomy over that joint at the moment so they’re not going to change him.”
Bob Dwyer, who coached Australia to the 1991 World Cup title said something needed to happen.
“If you’re not happy with the outcomes, which clearly we’re not, then we’ve got to address the playing performance or the coaching performance or both but we can’t address nothing,” Dwyer said.
“What’s more, as we did in cricket, I think we need to look at the performance of the board and administration as well because they provide leadership as well.”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Why would it? The report was commissioned in 2015 I believe. Clyne did not even step into the chairman role until December 2015. God this site is full of moronic posters who just say what they want to be the truth, without ever trying to understand reality.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Spot on. Castle is the level of executive we can get with what we can afford to pay.
Feff
Guest
Have you hear Mitchell speak ?.Cannon is articulate, Mitchell is a scattergun .
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah. Because he's been shooting from the hip for years leading to the odd public apology being required when he's off target.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I think his day has past. Was exceptional at his peak as a coach.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah. Everybody who needs to lead their comments with calling women PC appointment deserves it for taking cheap shots themselves.
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
I don't see Castle's appointment as a PC exercise but more a salary driven one. I suspect Raelene had lower salary expectations.
CHUCKED
Roar Rookie
I was fortunate enough to hear Owen Finegan speak at a function a few months back, then escorted him around for several hours the next day. As a Kiwi it was great to have some banter with Owen, but he made some absolutely valid points. He is a highly impressive speaker, the classic gentle giant, with hands the size of trees. he kept our audience spellbound with an intimate look at Aust Rugby The rot is within Rugby Australia. Castle can't be blamed, she has been there for what?, six months. Clyne and the Board need to fall on their heads. If Aust Rugby can get crowds of 20,000 to Club Games it is not too late.
Rugby wizard
Guest
Pieter De Villiers the coach that had a good record against a legendary all black team, probably 1 of 2 coaches in the world that know exactly how too beat the all blacks ,could be useful as a advisor and he is not involved with a major team.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
That is a bit of a cheap shot TWAS. There should be equality and Castle may have been a fine appointment to implement the rugby strategy of an informed board with the experience to develop the right strategy for rugby in Australia. However that is not the case. I would not have a problem with the board being spilled and a more experienced better qualified one deciding she was still the best option. Ditto Cheika, although Nick B's article this morning really confirms all of my fears about the current Wallaby management. That said, the key point you have been making about the power behind the scenes make all of this moot. Here is something for you to chew on. I have also been suggesting that nothing has changed since 1908. That is probably not correct. The 70s were a big time of upheaval including sport, the most high profile being cricket where Packer and the players took on the ACB. In rugby Australia took it up a notch with a generation of internationally competitive players and outspoken coaches. Performance became very important and maybe changed the way those same boards operated and were held to account. Roll forward into the professional era and these same boards have become less visible and less accountable with a RA structure incorporating a high profile board and management? Is change more likely if grass roots are mobilised to focus on the performance of the invisible men?
Brian
Guest
Forrest is not passionate about rugby, there is a quote from him in recent media saying as much. He is passionate about WA and so when a WA institution got shafted, he got involved
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Chieka should also understand that as the architect and sole selector of everything and everybody to do with the team HE is responsible for the current debacle and should resign...forthwith..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Comes with being a member of the front row club Jamie..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Is John Eales a Board member ?
DaveR
Guest
Yes CUW, lots of players can play multiple positions, but not usually at international level. A player is usually picked for his specialist skill at a particular position, especially in the starting 15. What Australia has done is to destabilise the set plays by having players out of their key skill position. The attacking scrum is lacking back row options, and the line out is a shambles. No player should be an automatic selection for the team - marque or not. I agree with you that is also a problem for the Wallabies. Hooper, Pocock, Folau, Beale, Foley may not all be assured of a place under a different coach.
jeznez
Roar Guru
the same has been happening to me the last few days - very frustrating
jameswm
Roar Guru
That - plus he struggles to string 2 spoken words together.
Highlander
Guest
Fixed
Highlander
Guest
Thanks Dennis have been out for a few hours so hadn't noticed this, have let the roar know, they actually did this is error on one of Nick B's articles a few weeks ago, either that or the people are being silenced by the machine
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
I've tried to post a comment on Highlanders excellent article but apparently comments are closed after only 16 posts. Have not seen that before on this site.