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Rugby Australia has appointed Scott Johnson as Director of Rugby and retained Michael Cheika as head coach until after the Rugby World Cup but declined to nominate a third selector to usher in a new, and exciting, era.
Don’t look past two former Wallaby coaches Rod Macqueen or Bobby Dwyer who have both been at the helm in lifting the William Webb Ellis Trophy as Rugby World Cup champions.
There is no more coveted reason for either to join Johnson, a brilliant selection, and Cheika, to formulate the immediate future.
There’s one more very valid reason why either would be perfect to make the selection panel all coach orientated.
In many ways Cheika’s wings have been clipped, and that’s not a bad move.
Some of his selections in the disastrous nine losses from 13 internationals in the recently completed campaign were astonishing, even for Cheika.
Switching Israel Folau from fullback to wing, and back to fullback, Dane Haylett-Petty in reverse, Kurtley Beale from inside centre to fly-half, Bernard Foley from fly-half to inside centre, Matt Toomua from inside centre to fly-half, and the continued recognition of Michael Hooper as captain, and number seven, when he wasn’t the best at either, had the dwindling rugby faithful blinking in disbelief.
The Hooper treatment will be right at the top of the agenda when the trio make their first selection moves.
But Johnson has more pressing moves to make first with his selection of Cheika’s support staff as to whether Stephen Larkham remains attack coach, Nathan Grey defence coach, and Simon Raiwalui the forwards coach.
The Wallaby attack in 2018 had more negatives than positives, the number of tackles missed were an all-time high, and the pack was generally stitched at scrum time – all part of the reasons why the men-in-gold won only four from 13 starts.
And the next big problem will be how to overcome the squad’s rugby basics ignorance of pass, catch, support, retain possession, and tackle, let alone winning their own lineout ball on a regular basis, likewise their scrum without being pushed all over the park.
That’s a mountain of corrections which must be made if the Wallabies are to reach the Rugby World Cup quarters.
The Wallabies won’t beat Ireland in the semis, but in the light of what happened this year, just reaching the semis would be one enormous achievement.
The only downside to today’s positive announcement is the Rugby Australia directors are getting off scot free when they haven’t been too crash hot either.
What the hell, let the board slip back into obscurity, and allow the positive attacking element in Scott Johnson to take command.
I’m glad Rugby Australia hasn’t the cold heart to punt Michael Cheika, because he deserved to be flicked.
But now he will enjoy having kindred spirits around him in Johnson, who is his boss, and either Rod Macqueen or Bobby Dwyer as the third selector.
That combination will bring back the dwindling faithful to watch a positive Wallaby squad.
