With less than three months to go until the start of the Wallabies’ 2019 campaign and no attack coach named, alarm bells are beginning to ring.
However, given the names that have been floating around as potential replacements for Stephen Larkham, some might argue we’d be better equipped without an attack coach at all.
The suggestions of Brian Smith and Shaun Berne are puzzling, with the former not having coached internationally since 2012 and the latter failing to make the star-studded Rebels back line click.
It is concerning to think Daryl Gibson could potentially be given the nod. The job he’s done with the Waratahs is hardly worth any merit, and Australian rugby should prepare for another season of under-performance with him at the attack helm.
While it is certain that left-field candidate Matt Giteau could in time be a successful coach, he certainly needs a few more seasons off the field and in the coach’s box before making such a drastic career switch.
So where does that leave Australian rugby in 2019? Seemingly without option.
After a disastrous international season, the chances of the Wallabies making it into the business end of the World Cup seem unlikely.
Right? Wrong!
It is evident that Australia have more than enough firepower in the back line to compete with the best in the world – the Wallabies just need a coach who can harness their abilities and sculpt out their inconsistencies.
The Wallabies should target Crusaders assistant coach Ronan O’Gara. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Across this ditch, there is a coach who has the ability to do just that and more. Has shown his worth as a top class coach for the last six years and has an impressive tally of 120 international caps for Ireland.
And importantly to the Wallabies, he has provided great reassurance and guidance to inconsistent fly-halves during his time in New Zealand.
The individual who will reshape the Wallabies’ attack in 2019 is Ronan O’Gara.
Since his retirement from rugby in 2013, O’Gara spent four years working primarily as a defence coach at Racing 92 in Paris.
He then made the shift to the Southern Hemisphere in 2018 to work as the Crusaders’ backs coach, where he recorded a memorable first season, helping the Canterbury outfit win their second consecutive Super Rugby title.
Throughout the 2019 season, O’Gara is continuing to show his worth, with a noticeable improvement in the Crusaders’ decision-making and consistent performances from both Richie Mo’unga and Mitch Hunt.
Over recent weeks, O’Gara has been open to acknowledge he has potential offers for a move. Speaking on the Irish rugby podcast Off the Ball, O’Gara confirmed he had received offers in Europe and hinted that he was open to the prospects of one day returning to a coaching role in France.
However, judgement day for his decision has not arrived yet, and it’s not too late for Michael Cheika to slide an offer to O’Gara to serve as the Wallabies’ attack coach for the 2019 season.
It is evident that the Irishman can provide the Wallabies with a plethora of benefits, particularly his extensive knowledge of the Northern Hemisphere and New Zealand rugby.
He has already shown his worth in the Crusaders’ set-up. He is a man capable of providing guidance to a back line filled with talent, and perhaps he is the Wallabies’ last hope to reformulate our attack, which only averaged a total of 19.2 points per game last season.
Given the defensive performances of Racing and the Crusaders under his tutelage, I’m sure he could give Nathan Grey a few points on that front as well.
So make the call, Cheika!
This is surely an opportunity that ROG wouldn’t turn down.
QED
Roar Rookie
Deans’ greatest sin was dropping Nathan Sharpe for Rob Simmons for the 2011 world cup semi final.
KFar
Guest
If you read Robbie's autobiography there were alarming issues at the Wallabies that he inherited. Senior players who didn't want to train hard and had poor attitudes, players that lacked basic skills for international players, lack of pride in the Jersey and treated it like it was their God given right right to wear it. Although it is his side of the story, I was amazed if even half of the things he mentioned were true.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Can't argue with results, but where I argue is the potential... that is the measure of a really successful coach I think... we were not playing to our potential under Deans, and we are not playing anywhere near our potential now under Cheika...
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Will Again I disagree :) I agreed with Deans dropping Giteau. At that time his form was poor. O'Connor at no 10 against Lions was the best Aust had at that time imo. Deans had WBs at no 2 in world for 5 years. You can't argue with his results. It's been all downhill for WBs ever since he was hounded out of here by anti foreigner Australian bigotry. Australians aren't mature enough to accept a foreign coach. And where's your evidence on the quality of WBs backs the past few years. Most of the guys you mention don't even get picked for the WBs. Past 2 years its been Foley, Beale, Phipps, DHP, Kerevi, Folau picked mostly out of position. I don't rate Genia as world class either - he doesn't make the top 10 halfbacks in world. NZ have 2 better than him. You totally over-rate these guys imo. You appear to forget WBs are ranked no 6-7 in world and in 2017 & 2018 they had their worst win/loss ratios on record. And major problems were poor attack, inability to score tries and poor back line defence. There's no reason to believe they'll be any different this year either. Look at the poor form of all the Australian Super Teams :)
Bankso
Guest
Exactly, why would he want to risk his coaching career by taking a dodgy job under a dodgy head coach.
Golden Graham
Roar Rookie
The hatred for Deans wasn’t without reason - he did drop Giteau from his World Cup squad and played O’Connor at 10 for the Lions tour. In terms of the Australian backs stocks, we certainly have the players to mix it with the best. A Kerevi and Kurindrani centre pairing would challenge Wales’ Davies and Parkes and Ireland would kill for our options in the back three given our abundance of talent there - DHP, KB, Banks, Marika, Maddox, Sefa, Pulu and Speight are good examples. Hard to argue too, that Genia isn’t world class...
Kirky
Roar Rookie
None you mention are top quality International Players!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Why would Ronan O'Gara even think perhaps that he's like to coach Australian RUGBY? ~ If and when he ever decides to leave the Crusaders, I doubt he'd ever want to go anywhere near the Wallabies, the Coaching position in this Country is a out and out poison chalice and every Coach knows that, ~ His own words are that he'd prefer to stay with the Crusaders, but if it can't happen, he's had a job offer in France!
gazza
Roar Rookie
Darren Coleman ought be considered as attack coach. His professional coaching carer is outstanding.
Cole
Roar Rookie
RA should save their cash and just get some club rugby coach, homeless person or me to be the attacking coach. As Cheika has basically said that they will be a glorified water boy anyway with no tactical input. In fact with the lack of credentials required to be the attacking coach of the Wallabies who has no input into their coaching RA could do a promotional “be Australia’s attack coach at the World Cup” raffle and make some money out of it!
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Will You say "It is evident that Australia have more than enough firepower in the back line to compete with the best in the world" I don't agree at all - they never had the required skills or firepower before Folau was sacked - now they're further behind the top 5 competition. 2nd - I agree with you O'Gara could be developing into a great coach but he looks too intelligent and sane to accept any coaching contracts in Aust. Any foreign coach coming here would be accepting a poisoned chalice. Look at what we did to R Deans who got us to no 2 consistently but we crucified him anyway. Plus O'Gara has a good gig with Crusaders. He'll be treated with kindness and respect there while he's learning from the best coaches and playing talent in the world. He'd have to be crazy to come here - and he doesn't look crazy either :)
RickyZ
Guest
It’s difficult to know how well ROG can replicate his Crusaders contribution elsewhere. That team has an exceptional culture (Cape Town incident excepted) and IMO the most professional Super franchise by some margin. The Wallabies environment would be sooooo different. “It is evident that Australia have more than enough firepower in the backline to compete with the best in the world”. We have some quality backs but sadly no wingers who would rate. Me thinks you are grossly over rating our backline stocks.
Rugbyfan in East Perth
Guest
It's interesting the comparison of ROG and Gibson as both have been in the Crusaders system, ROG is the preference with recent results. ROG seems to be looking for development in his career and what Chieka does not do well is develop coaches and . ROG has also done well at the Crusaders because he has genuinely been empowered to add something to the team's strategy. Chieka is looking for someone that follows his strategy and is effectively a messenger not a decision maker. So i would be very surprised the Chieka would select someone he has never worked with before at this stage, and i would also be surprised if ROG would want accept the offer at this point in his career. Gibson makes sense as the relationship has worked in the past and is a better assistant coach than Head Coach.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes I don't know exactly what his true impact has been. Have seen good things coming out of ROG and the camp but in terms of attacking rugby Oz style it would be a huge leap of faith, but not a bad idea to be in some role. Oz need external ideas.
freddieeffer
Roar Rookie
Agree Hoy, the thing that sticks in my mind, is that after the 2018 Spring Tour, there was allegedly a 'please explain' season review held by Castle/RA, of Cheika. Many fans hold the same views you've expressed above while watching the Wallabies slide hard and fast down the IRB rankings from 2016 onwards. How many here on the Roar have wondered out aloud how the hell could Cheika get through a review of 2018 without some form of formal rebuke or expression of dissatisfaction by his boss with his 'Plan', because the results are catastrophically heading in the wrong direction? So Cheika throws Larkham under the bus, and RA appoints Johnston as Director of Rugby and for 2019, with 2 additional selectors to 'support' Cheika and his 'Plan'. After that astonishing review effort, I can only presume Cheika huffed, puffed and bluffed Castle with how good his vision and plan is to win the RWC. They obviously fell for it, and let him off the hook. The only thing left for the long-suffering fans this year is to see whether Cheika pulls a rabbit out of the hat and proves us all wrong; or he's a genius that we've unfairly nailed and walks away a hero at the end of this year. Talk about death or glory! Personally, I'm not confident, we'll get out of the pool stage, unless the selectors get it right for a change, and in a short time-frame we make vast improvements in defence and offence capabilities.
Golden Graham
Roar Rookie
I completely agree - but it sounds like ROG is on his way out of NZ anyway. But it certainly can't hurt the resume to have a season of international experience, particularly when you're taking a job with zero expectation.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Given the politics inside Australian rugby and the current head coach of the WB's I think it would be quite the career mistake for RoG to move across the ditch. Another year under the 'mad genius' would be of more long term benefit me thinks.
Golden Graham
Roar Rookie
And Cheika took Australia to a World Cup final in 2015. Picking people and players on past form is the Wallabies' achilles heel.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Great idea, Will, but not sure whether it'll give ROG enough time to make an influence before RWC kick-off. This might be a reason no one with the appropriate credentials has volunteered their wishes to Cheika thus far. Gibson, on the other hand, knows Cheika ball very well and the players and, most importantly, can and has worked successfully with Cheika. They after-all did take the Tahs to their only super rugby championship in 2014.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I think we all need to face up to the reality that whoever is chosen here is taking up a hard task... None of us can work out why our system at the Wallabies is so ridiculously complex, shuffling players in defence AND attack... with our only real attacking move shown over the last 4 years, being a short pod, passing back to a second man play, who passes deeper to another second man player, wide, who is invariably caught at the gain line, if not behind... Rinse and repeat the other way... No point for an attack coach unless Cheika accepts their advice on attack structure, and lets it happen... I still can't quite believe that Larkham was responsible for our horrid attack systems over the last few years... or maybe I don't want to believe it... Either way, if it is Gibson? Then the WC exit can't come early enough, so we can rebuild and restart all over again...