Let’s face it, Wallaby rugby is up Ship Creek without a paddle, but there’s light at the end of the misery tunnel with the appointment of Scott Johnson as the director of rugby.
The 56-year-old won’t be waving a magic wand, he’ll be the catalyst with head coach Michael Cheika, and a third selector yet to be named, which must be Rod Macqueen.
And before the naysayers start chirping, Macqueen has been out of mainstream rugby for seven years. Now, the game is different, but the rugby basics of pass, catch, support, tackle, and retain possession will never change.
It’s the basics that are currently missing, making Johnson-Cheika-Macqueen the perfect combination, with a lot in common, to get the Wallabies back on track.
Johnson’s Shute Shield rugby kicked off as a flyhalf-centre with Parramatta and Eastwood, Cheika as a flanker with Randwick, and Macqueen as a flanker with Warringah.
All three represented NSW, but not the Wallabies, yet all three became international coaches.
But all three have vastly different natures.
Cheika is the loose cannon with a short fuse, Johnson is middle of the road, while Macqueen has an even keel, but is a strong communicator.
Perfect.
And for the knockers who believe Cheika won’t be able to cope with losing his ultimate power, having to answer to Johnson his boss, and sit around the selection table with Johnson, and Macqueen, having their say – think again.
There’s no vacuum in the 16cms between Cheika’s ears. He’s a very intelligent man.
Sure he’s made some stunning left-field selections, and sent his Wallabies out with some odd tactics, but those days are gone under this new set-up.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Three qualified international coaches will now dictate every move the Wallabies make to the 80th minute of the Rugby World Cup final in Japan on November 2.
Can the Wallabies make the decider?
They have far more chance now than they had with just Cheika calling all the shots.
In fact it won’t surprise if Cheika actually enjoys the input of two colleagues who have been through the international head coaching mill, as against his current assistants who haven’t.
It can be a lonely job, but spreading the responsibilities can, and should, be a relief.
Months ago, Cheika made the statement if the Wallabies don’t improve on their 2015 Rugby World Cup result, he was on his bike.
That translates to lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy in Tokyo, or else.
Seeing the Wallabies most likely have to beat Ireland in the semis, and the All Blacks in the final, the Wallabies could be looking for a new coach come November.
Rugby Australia at long last made a positive move in appointing Johnson to a newly-created position, move now on Kiwi Warren Gatland who will end 12 productive years as Wales’ head coach after the Tokyo decider.
Then Scott Johnson, Rod Macqueen, and Warren Gatland can take the Wallabies to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, where the new breed will have the rugby basics as second nature.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
True on the pressure to perform. I'm not so sure that Johnson and a 3rd selector will work so well. I'm actually picking a fight developing between the two nieces and Cheika
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
G'day David, the selection panel is a good change which while reining in coach Cheika's tendency of loyalty to players who are just not up to test level (and even worse when there are far better alternatives overlooked) whoever is selected still has to play to the coach's orders, which to be kind are 4-5 years behind the times. So for mine this is only one of many changes needed for the WB to have any show at RWC2019. As for the 3rd person on the selection panel, I don't care who it is as long as it's not a Cheika fav like S.Moore or another "Randwick alumni". The other big change I would like RA to bring in is to change the WB selection criteria, but ONLY for the years that World cups are played. Basically include any Australian-born player currently with an overseas club who has played at least 2 years of SR in an Australian team (note even if they were reserve every match). This would allow good players such Nic White and Will Skelton to play for Australia in the World Cup as well as Michael Alaalatoa to consider the thrill of playing alongside his brother in a gold jumper, even if he plies his trade with the Crusaders. Some people will moan it cheapens the jumper bla bla bla but look at the showcase match on Saturday night, the match was decided because England's Pacific Islander "new Poms" belted Ireland's South African "new spuds". It's not adding "Grandparent rorts"; it's being realistic to the one-way flow of quality Australian players to NH gold. Am not sure if this is a continuation of the RA review or the first of many Scott Johnson "recommendations" but SMH has just announced the golden child Stephen Larkham "has been moved on and appointed national high performance coach advisor". This is RA-speak for "he got the boot from the Assistant Coach gig". As usual the Rugby Australia web site says nothing about it. That clears up one fear for me. I was in dread that Larkham would be handed the head coach position once M.Cheika leaves after RWC2019.
Machpants
Roar Guru
Hopefully he'll stop this sort of utter incompetence! http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/25911881/bernard-foley-wants-clarity-wallabies-super-rugby-rest-weeks
Markie362
Guest
Uhad that in robbie deans look how that ended
David Lord
Expert
Rugbyfan, Rod Macqueen as third selector is my suggestion, not an assumption, based on what he can bring to the table as the proven most successful Wallaby coach in history. Will Cheika listen to any input from Johnson, or the third selector? That’s no assumption, like it or not, he has no option. This is a new ball game with Cheika’s sole selection-tactic policy wiped out completely. What you will see from the Wallabies from now on will be the decision-making of the three selectors, with Cheika answerable to Johnson as the one in charge.
Rugbyfan in WA
Guest
Two big assumptions with this article. 1. Will Rod McQueen actually be the 3rd selector. 2. Will Cheika actually listen to any input from Johnson or the 3rd selector. He has a history of hiring yes men in his coaching group and has said in the past that having a for. Of rugby or 3rd selector is not necessary. This article assumes a lot with no confirmation or basis of fact who will be the 3rd selector also assumes that the Coach will listen and embrace feedback from others when he has a history of the opposite.
krasnoff of noosa
Roar Rookie
Too many chiefs and too many Indians left in the wilderness. Accommodating Johnson and Cheika will not work. Cheika is an obstinate, biased man of limited tactical nous who demonstrated (through his results) that he is behind the eight ball as an international coach. He is a despot and will cause friction with Johnson. The RA is supposedly strapped for cash, but can afford to employ Johnson as well as Cheika and his training entourage. That is a measure of the incompetence pouring out of this private little club run by the Sukkars and other members of the Friends of Sydney University Football Club, ”FOSUFC”. The solution is simple: cut the East Coast bias so that players can be picked purely on merit; bring Forrest into the tent; get rid of Cheika and look to MacQueen. This WC is lost to Australia. Clear out the swamp and start being professional!
DonWan
Guest
What about Ewan Mckenzie?
Kane
Roar Guru
I see a lot of similarities between Donald Trump and Cheika. Both successful businessmen. Both hot headed loose cannons. Both wildly out of their dept in their current role. David, to answer your question about can the Wallabies make the RWC Final? Well I’m pretty sure tickets are sold out...
BadgerBob
Guest
Cant really see why Scott Johnson will be a saviour, he didnt do very well when he was Scotland coach losing almost every game to a tier one nation, only scraping victories againt Italy and the pacific islands and almost losing to USA and Canada. His record is quite frankly terrible.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Guys I am talking about a selector not a coach! Strange how I am thinking one thing and you lot another...
Dontcallmeshirley
Guest
There is no way Garland would come in underneath Johnson.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
I think your point 1 can be addressed by selection panel of 3. Your other 2 points, whilst being extremely valid, remain in the sole domain of one, Michael Cheika .
David Lord
Expert
Sinclair, Warren Gatland has already thrown his hat in the ring to coach the 2023 British and Irish Lions for the tour of Australia, but hasn’t put his hand up to take on coaching the All Blacks when Steve Hansen calls it a day after the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Neither has another Kiwi in Joe Schmidt, the current coach of Ireland. The two outstanding candidates loom as Ian Foster, Hansen’s assistant since 2011, and Scott Robertson who has revived the Crusaders. In short, Warren Gatland would be an ideal future Wallaby coach, so Rugby Australia mustn’t waste any time getting across the table to sound out his interest. But the board is not renowned for getting off its backside, with inertia its key role.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
Thanks for your article David. I don't know what to make of Johnson. The comments from the NH seem to be very mixed. I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Does McQueen even want to be mixed up in the current imbroglio? I agree that we should try make more use of people like McQueen, Dwyer, Lyneham etc. but is MC really the personality to do this? I appreciate that you know most/all of these people to varying degrees, which I don't. I would still like to see Jake the Snake take on the poisoned chalice - his focus on culture and basics addressed a rabble at the Brumbies and might be the key to getting the most out of Mick the Kick and other skills developers? He comes with his own issues but I love his overall record. Still hope to see Wessells being brought on board in the near future to see if he can develop into an Australian coach. Gatland is a fine coach similar to White perhaps but less abrasive - but I wonder if he'd want the gig, even though he is looking for a new role?
Rugby First
Roar Rookie
Up Ship Creek without a paddle or a boat without a GPS paddling upstream? Appointing a selector can not work on it's own!!!! Reading all the different comments about who should play where, who should Coach etc, highlights the many and varied styles of Rugby people think will win if their changes are made. They then support the players they feel will deliver. This is a very health debate and really opens the door to "what style of Rugby should the Wallabies play? Current Results show , "The Checker current style" is just not a winning style, not functioning or the players do not have a "buy in". Is it the Coach ? the game plan/style or selections? The first 2 questions that need clarification are .... Step 1. Review Checker's game playing/style of Rugby he wants to Coach Step 2. Find the answer to the Question, why as past sole selector and Coaching head has he not been able to obtain a pass mark with his selected players and game plan? Answer these 2 questions and correct the flaws in the game/style/plan/selections, just maybe things will change? or Maybe the swamp needs to drain and throw the paddle away! or flood the system and paddle like Ship.....
Bobby
Roar Rookie
David, thanks for the article. If you know Cheika, you know he is direct, hard headed , obstinate etc. In his gut he will be filthy his absolute power has possibly been diluted. He has several months to go What do you think would be RA's response if Chek doesn't just roll over?.
John R
Roar Guru
Reports I've read were saying RA have sounded out Gregan, but he was taking time to consider it, as it's not just figurehead position, but a fairly time intensive role, with s--t loads of rugby to watch, and tape to analyse etc etc. And he is busy with his own business ventures.
Jock the sock
Guest
Is selection this important? Do we need to pay a $mill for a selector!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Mooney has nowhere near the CV to be a test Head Coach