The wheels are in motion to find a successor for coach Michael Cheika should the Wallabies not win the Rugby World Cup later this year.
Contracted through to the tournament, Cheika said last year he would walk away should Australia not hold aloft the Webb Ellis Cup in Tokyo on November 2, believing that anything else would represent a lack of progress after they made the final in 2014.
The Wallabies’ stocks have plummeted since then, last year losing nine of their 13 Tests – their worst season since 1958 – including a 3-0 Bledisloe Cup sweep by the All Blacks and defeats to Wales and England on the year-ending overseas tour.
New Zealand have already laid out the process for a replacement for their outgoing coach Steve Hansen, who will step down after the rugby showpiece.
His assistant Ian Foster and triumphant Crusaders Super Rugby coach Scott Robertson are already pencilled in for December interviews.
Rugby Australia director Scott Johnson said the feelers were out for suitable candidates should Cheika leave the role or his contract wasn’t renewed after the tournament.
He said he couldn’t speak for Cheika’s post World Cup intentions.
“We’re doing our due diligence. It’s not like we’re sitting back and doing nothing,” Johnson said ahead of the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship clash with South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday.
“We’re understanding that we’ve got a process.”
After holding coaching roles with the Wales and Scotland national sides, Johnson said it would be “hypocritical” of him to insist the next Wallabies coach be Australian.
Former Chiefs coach Kiwi Dave Rennie has been linked to the post, although he is signed with current club Glasgow until mid 2020.
“I think we’re after quality,” Johnson said.
“I don’t put a nationality next to the next person. It would be nice to have Australians in place but they have to be quality and that is what we’ve got spend some time doing.
“There’s everyone in the frame that’s coaching around the world and we’re trying to find someone that suits.”
Rennie was also believed to be in the sights of the Waratahs following the departure of Daryl Gibson.
Johnson said RA were involved in the appointment of the new Waratahs coach.
“The beauty of it is we’re getting a more aligned system here and whilst it’s a Waratahs pick we certainly are being involved in the process.”
Meanwhile, RA haven’t closed the door on luring back the likes of Will Skelton for the World Cup, despite the lock signing a new Saracens deal.
But Skelton would have to commit to Australian rugby.
“There is ongoing discussions with a few players, we’re not just talking about for World Cup,” Johnson said.
“Will’s not unlike some others – Australian players will be discussed often to see what’s in the best interest of our Wallabies or pro teams.
“We’re trying to pick anyone who we think can contribute to our program that commits to our program, that’s what we’ll pick.”
Puff
Guest
It’s like reading cartoons; Cheika may or may not give notice. He reiterates, his coaching future depends on the world cup and not his 4 year record or the wallabies’ pitiful 2018 season. We have Johnson rabbiting on about looking for replacements, even to the extents of name dropping. Then we have the RA talking about weighing up their future options including the next Tah’s coach. Were we all born confused or are we following a sport, struggling to embrace change.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah just pick him. Oh hang on Saracens didn't have to release him until Sunday night so he may not have even arrived in SA and trained until Monday. So much for that two week training camp...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Wisemantel has never been Head Coach at provincial level.
Aiden
Guest
Agree to a point. You either (a) improve club rugby to the point that it’s profitable, it’s on FTA, there are plenty of teams to build depth or (b) give up and take the approach you suggest. Option a seems impossible for RA to pull off, we are forever shackled to the hopeless super rugby and pay tv model which demands death by paper cuts until there is nothing left.
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
If the selectors want Will Skelton to play for the Wallabies in the World Cup, pick him. Why would Australia hamstring itself? Australia needs to start thinking of itself as a larger version of Fiji and Argentina. Australia was one of the southern hemisphere rugby super powers in the good old days, yesterday, before the balance of power changed with the weight of money shifting to the north. It's time to wake up and recognise the harsh reality. The charade of making an overseas player qualify to play for the Wallabies because they have signed a contract to play for an Australian (why not NZ too?) super rugby franchise in the future, let's be really cynical and say 2029, a rule that should be struck out. How many Australian franchises will there be anyway in 2029, my guess is three. Another prediction is the average age of the player in the future Australian rugby franchises will be 20, as the money imbalance is going to get larger and Australia will be just a pool of talent, just like Fiji and Argentina. If it was me I would be talking to the USA and getting rid of South Africa and creating a Pacific competition, with or without NZ.
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
As much as some would say that is settling for somebody, in this case the AB's, second choice, that actually is not a bad idea. First of all both Foster and Robertson are accomplished and deserve a chance to coach internationally. Plus whichever one does not get the AB job should be even more motivated especially when facing New Zealand, to show that they made the wrong choice.
Aiden
Guest
Hopefully the next Coach will be a Kiwi. We should interview Foster and Robertson as well, offer it to the one who misses out.
Aussie D
Guest
ScottWeismantel - two questions 1 does he have any head coaching experience to go off, thought he was an assistant coach only 2 how have the teams he has coached improved likewise under his tutelage? Next coach for the tags should be Darren Coleman as teams he coaches improve under his tutelage and perform better than the sum of their parts.
Bernie Morris
Guest
Was there a world Cup played in 2014?
BillPosters
Roar Rookie
Yeah not a bad point.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Gilmore needs to stay where he is. One good year is not enough to bed in a culture of winning. The U20's deserve a good coach and to be taken seriously to strenghten pathways.
BillPosters
Roar Rookie
Not Rennie, please. PLEASE. Sure he is a good coach with a great record of success in the short term at super rugby level and now Pro14 but he is known to be a tyrant in the coaching box. We need a coach that can not only coach well (aka “quality”) but also one that can unite Aus Rugby under a single banner and mindset. For me, the right man for the Wallabies job is Scott Wisemantel, very well regarded in all the Aus Unions. As for the Waratahs, I think they should promote Chris Whittaker or give Jason Gilmore a run. More than half the u20s squad are under the Waratahs setup so it would be a good coaching continuation for them if Gilmore heads the tahs.