Michael Cheika is under pressure. The Wallabies are under pressure. Australian rugby is under pressure.
Even if Cheika pulls off a miracle World Cup win in Japan, it is a safe to assume he will walk or be pushed away from the Australian coaching role. If Australian rugby fans are honest, a World Cup win won’t make up for the last four years of borderline mediocrity from their national team.
The appointment of the next Wallabies coach will be a defining moment for Australian rugby. Who they appoint is a massive decision.
So which Kiwi will it be?
Australian coaching stocks are bare. There aren’t many knocking down Rugby Australia’s door. Scott Johnson, solid yes. Eddie Jones, um? Why settle for solid with so many outstanding New Zealand coaches available.
Joe Schmidt
Schmidt is the current Irish coach and will leave his post after the World Cup. He has coached Ireland to a record high ranking of No.2 in the world.
He has broken hoodoos and made history. He has beaten the All Blacks… twice. He is the reigning international coach of the year.
Schmidt is returning to New Zealand for family reasons after the World Cup and said he is finished with coaching. Australian rugby would be negligent if they did not make an inquiry to see if Schmidt’s mind could not be changed.
Warren Gatland
Fresh from another Six Nations crown, the current Wales coach is also returning to New Zealand rugby to coach the Chiefs in Super Rugby next season.
New Zealand Rugby have been generous enough to let him take on the role of the British and Irish Lions coach in 2021. This is a 12-month appointment that could prove a sticking point if Australia were interested. An attempt should still be made.
(David Davies/PA via AP)
Vern Cotter
Challenged Steve Hansen for the All Blacks coaching role back in 2012. Since then he has honed his craft in France and as head coach of Scotland.
He turned the Scots into a side capable of challenging the big nations consistently and achieving some great results in the process.
Not as high-profile as the first two coaches, but he is highly respected around the world as a straight-shooting, honest coach. He would be a good fit for what Australian rugby needs.
Scott Robertson
The only man to have won a hat trick of Super Rugby titles as both a player and coach. He just led the Crusaders to a three-peat.
A more laid-back attitude with break-dancing moves thrown in, he would be a fresh face for the Wallabies and someone the weary die-hard fans could embrace.
Robbie Deans
Never say never. Ewen McKenzie’s win ratio was 50 per cent… Michael Cheika’s, let’s not go there. Robbie Deans’ was 59 per cent.
As harshly as he was judged by many fans, a 59 per cent win ratio would have been swallowed up with pleasure considering the results over the last few seasons.
He has been plying his trade at Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan over the past few seasons. Australian rugby has done far worse in recent times.
There are other options out there – Tony Brown and Dave Rennie, for example – however they will not be viewed as high-profile enough for the Wallabies role. The above options might seem out of reach, yet Australian rugby needs somebody to make a difference.
If Wallabies fans cannot stomach the idea of a Kiwi coaching their national team again, perhaps further reflection on recent results should be done and some pride swallowed.
Perhaps even Scott Johnson staying on as director of rugby could help soften the blow of another New Zealand appointment for the doubters.
What Rugby Australia decide to do when the selection process begins will be fascinating.
winston
Roar Rookie
Rennie had Wayne Smith.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
I actually think Dave Rennie would be a good fit for you convicts (a dig). He is good at development and building feeder talent pools at age group level etc. I’ve always been puzzled at Aus insistence on selecting their own re coaching, it’s off the pace when you gaze at pro sports globally. Competence over ethnicity any day of the week.
Chufortah
Guest
The author of the article isn’t the ARU champ, or the coach... we don’t want a Kiwi coach.
Chufortah
Guest
Gibson was a shambles, and the only reason he had improvement was due to Simon Cron (another filthy Kiwi - relax its a dig). Now we’ve lost Cron to overseas, Gibson saw the writing on the wall. I don’t think parachuting a Kiwi into the Wallabies coaching role is very smart... coaching in NZ, it’s analagous to how a number 10 looks when his forwards dominate. Easy... well easier perhaps because every Kiwi has rugby smarts. Australia rugby has deep-seated issues, and a cluttered sporting landscape. Bring a Kiwi on as advisor, but keep them away from the Head Coaching role. It’s very important, if anything for psychological reasons.
Gav
Guest
Riddler is a known sh#t stirrer Fionn. Pay no mind to him.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Regarding Robbie Deans ...... yes he was shafted but not just by RA. I remember quite a few rugby journalists throwing knives, as well as a continual chorus of Roar commentators doing their own bit of back stabbing. If you remember back to those years Deans had a paucity of talent, in the halves and in the pack, along with a long list of serious injuries to contend with. Yet he still managed a 59% win rate. Robbie Deans was crucified on the cross of McKenzie's ambition. Yeah, I reckon Deans was a good coach for the Wallabies and I would be happy to see him back, but I strongly doubt he would want the job.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Fionn one Saturday in early 2011 I was watching a local game at "Toad Hall" (a local ground on the Sunshine Coast), where John Connolly was a regular spectator, and the subject of MacKenzie and the lady was openly discussed. Pretty much you had to be deaf, blind and dumb not to know something was going on.
Gee
Roar Rookie
How about another New Zealander to run RA?
AussieBokkie
Roar Rookie
Cotter would be a really smart signing by RA. He doesn’t get enough credit for laying the foundations for which Scotland now enjoy under Townsend. In fact Townsend hasn’t taken them further and in many ways has just kept in place all the systems set by Cotter. Let’s remember that before Cotter Scotland were an utter basket case for a very long time.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
'It is no longer World Rugby but UKEuro Rugby with the Others providing the players.' You're right, zhenry, I can't think of even one half-decent British player plying his trade in the English Premiership or Pro 14.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Dean’s wouldn’t come back mate. He was shafted by the ARU and doesn’t need that again
taylorman
Roar Guru
I dont think his tahs run served him well at all but he did have one major distraction. Cheika kept picking his players when they werent even up to Super level so thats something he didnt have that other coaches did...a large number of players that were not looking, or hoping, to spread their season further than July each year. He would have fared better if they were true test quality players but most werent, and look at the wallaby results during his tahs run. Poor.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
PeterK - given Gibson's obvious familiarity with the NZ style, IMO if you gave him a decent squad he could expose a few warts.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
He can only play the cards he's dealt.
PeterK
Roar Guru
yep like anyone could coach the AB's to success. Would Gibson thrive against the other NZ teams is the question, I doubt it.
zhenry
Guest
Mad. But your CEO would have had RA support as well. They would not have let her act alone. However the same thing happened with the Bulldogs.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Doesn't say much for his coaching skills then.
zhenry
Guest
Yes Rennie is a dam good coach and I made no disparaging comments against him. However I have made many disparaging comments on this site re Tew. Riddler below writes AU will accept Tew anytime, understandably. Tew made many dismal decisions re NZ rugby, one of them was letting O’Neill and his RA have their way with 5 super franchises. He did find AB sponsors, albeit one pulled from the depths of hell by US taxpayers. Tew tended to go uncritically with the corporate model and was very sensitive to what the AU owned NZ media had to say, I think he has unwittingly favored AU especially during the O’Neill years. I am not going into the detail here you can go online for that. I don’t claim great wisdom only a mere mortal, but I stand firmly by my observations re NZ society. It is no longer World Rugby but UKEuro Rugby with the Others providing the players - However the next few years is critical for the World not just for Rugby.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Australian cattle, yes. It's no secret that there is a lack of talent depth in Australia. Put Gibson in an NZ super rugby team and he probably thrives.
Kiwikrs
Roar Rookie
You keep misspelling facts, but let's leave this here before we go round and round in circles.