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VOTE: Who should be the next Wallabies coach?

24th October, 2019
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24th October, 2019
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With Michael Cheika stepping down as Australian coach on Sunday afternoon, speculation is already rife about who his successor will be.

As always, we want you to tell us your opinion on the matter, so have a read through some of the men touted as the new Wallabies coach, then vote for who you’d like to see take the reins from 2020 onwards.

Dave Rennie
If reports are to be believed, Rennie’s appointment as Wallabies coach is only a matter of time, with he and Rugby AU supposedly agreeing in principle to a four-year deal.

Rennie had enormous success at the Chiefs, guiding them to a pair of Super Rugby titles, but has been less successful in his current role at Glasgow Warriors and is yet to coach an international side.

Dave Rennie

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Jamie Joseph
Joseph has been lauded for the way he had Japan playing this World Cup, the Brave Blossoms playing an enterprising brand of running rugby as they made the quarter-finals for the first time.

There have been differing reports on his current contract status, with Joseph stonewalling questions about his future after the loss to South Africa. Although there was a spate of claims he and the JRU had agreed to a two-year extension before the World Cup, more recent reports indicate negotiations have since broken down. If he is available, he’ll surely be in contention for the soon-to-be-vacant All Blacks role, too.

Eddie Jones
The dream candidate. Eddie Jones has enjoyed tremendous success since being shown the door as Wallabies coach in 2005, playing a role in South Africa’s successful 2007 World Cup campaign before coaching Japan to their famous upset win over the Boks in 2015 and England to… well, we don’t quite know yet in 2019. But it’s better than what Australia managed.

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Rugby AU would be mad not to at least enquire about Jones’ interest for the vacancy, but he does have another year to run on his England contract. Tomorrow’s result against New Zealand may well impact whether a return to Australia is feasible or not.

Eddie Jones, the England head coach, looks on

(Photo by David Rogers – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Vern Cotter
Australian fans will be familiar with Cotter’s coaching acumen, after the Kiwi almost guided Scotland to a shock win over the Wallabies at the 2015 World Cup. He worked under Scott Johnson during that 2014-17 tenure, and left the role with the best winning percentage for a coach of Scotland in the professional era.

Will be available, too – he’s leaving his current role as director of rugby at Montpellier at the end of this season, where he’s rumoured to be succeeded by, of all people, Michael Cheika.

Joe Schmidt
Schmidt has just finished up a highly successful stint as Ireland coach, albeit one which ended in a World Cup tilt which failed to match the side’s form in previous seasons.

The Kiwi masterminded two victories over his home nation from four attempts – Ireland’s only two wins over the All Blacks in their entire history. He’s heading home to New Zealand now, but with Australia’s next Test well over half a year away, that might be enough of a break before getting back into coaching international rugby.

Joe Schmidt

(Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

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Jake White
White reportedly approached Rugby AU about coaching the Wallabies this time last year, only for the governing body to cancel a scheduled call between the two parties after its details found their way to the press.

The South African hasn’t coached at Test level since guiding the Springboks to the 2007 World Cup, but did enjoy a good two-season spell at the Brumbies before being beaten to the Wallabies gig in 2013 by Ewen McKenzie.

Dan McKellar
A rare Australian on this list, McKellar has had a good start to life as a head coach with the Brumbies. After taking over from Stephen Larkham (who, side note, we’ve not included as he’s just begun a three-year term as Munster’s head coach) in 2018, he guided the ACT side to their best season since 2015 earlier this year.

This opportunity has probably come up too quickly for McKellar. He only has two years of Super Rugby head coaching on his resume, one of which ended without a finals appearance. Needs to prove himself over a longer period of time.

Dan McKellar

(Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)

Scott Robertson
Robertson’s been labelled the perfect replacement for Cheika by former Wallabies hooker Jeremy Paul, and it’s easy to see why. The former All Black is one of the most sought-after coaches in world rugby after displaying really good breakdancing skills leading the Crusaders to three Super Rugby titles in as many years.

Truth is, there’s next to no chance of him taking charge of the Wallabies anytime soon. Robertson signed a two-year contract extension with the NZRU and Crusaders earlier this year. If he’s coaching a Test team next year, it’ll be the All Blacks.

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Scott Wisemantel
Possibly the next-most highly rated Australian at the moment behind Eddie Jones, Wisemantel is currently working under Jones as England’s attack coach. Formerly backs coach at Montpellier, Wisemantel was among the frontrunners to replace Daryl Gibson as Waratahs boss, although that job eventually went to Kiwi Rob Penney.

The former league and union player has a long association with Jones, having worked as Wallabies skills coach during the 2003 World Cup. While he has his admirers and has done an impressive job with England’s attack, he hasn’t held a permanent head coaching role at Test level yet.

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