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.
(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.
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.
(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.
(Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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.
(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.
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.
Richard
Guest
Further to my previous comment, I also would add Vern Cotter into the mix as he is outstanding. Cheers
Richard
Guest
A couple of comments: Who we get as our next Wallabies coach is kind of irrelevant if we don’t sort out rugby in Australia. We have some great talent coming through but the whole code needs structural reform to ensure that club rugby, country rugby, suburban rugby and youth rugby are supported and the State sides in the Super Rugby comp work together for the greater good of the code. Secondly, whatever Eddie Jones may have done to put noses out of joint in his last stint as a Wallabies coach needs to be forgotten. 15 years later, he has grown as a coach and compiled a coaching resume that is incredibly impressive. Thirdly, If Clyne is going then so should Castle and many of the state administrators. Fourth, It makes no sense not to get Andrew Forrest involved. If the ARU have no money and he has bucket loads then get him involved in some way shape or form. Finally, let me tell you a little story about Eddie. I am an Aussie based in London. About 3months ago I was in a hotel in Mayfair for a meeting. Eddie walks in and sits at the table next to us. My meeting finishes so I approach him, introduce myself and ask him if he has time for a quick chat. I have never met him before. I first up ask him if he thinks the Poms will win the World Cup. He replies without batting an eyelid that they will. I kind of commented that he has a little too confident and he politely told me that barring injuries they will win and everything is on track. Supremely confident would be an understatement more matter of fact. I then ask him about Australian rugby. His reply was that many of the senior roles in Australian rugby are filled by less than impressive people with agendas that are holding back the code and we have no chance whilst they are in positions. He definitely referred to State and National roles. He then made a comment that Australia has talent, there is definitely money available and we should be doing better than what we do re is no plan, buy-in, common goal so on and so forth. I won’t say what else I asked him nor what his replies were but suffice to say he doesn’t hold back, is thoughtful, is a winner and is meticulous in his details and observations. And yes a tad cocky but in a larrikan way - he is polite and smiles while being frank. So, I thanked him and walked away or should I correctly state he had answered my questions for 45 minutes and was preparing for a presentation. In summary, looking back on my chat and what he said and his demeanour, I am not surprised England are where they are and the Wallabies are where they are. Yes he was confident, yes he was matter of fact but my god he was impressive. And in a business way - very professional. So all those with long memories, who harbour some sort of grudge, who might have had a run in with this guy in the distant past, my words to you are get over it. Imagine the impact he could have on our rugby if he was in charge. Imagine what would happen if we allowed him to young outstanding state coaches that we have. Anyway, food for thought and again I left out 3/4 of what he said and it was quite enlightening. Cheers
piru
Roar Rookie
Have you ever met an actual kiwi? as opposed to the ones you create in your head?
piru
Roar Rookie
So ? contract noun: contract; plural noun: contracts /ˈkɒntrakt/ a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.
OJ
Roar Rookie
So ?
OJ
Roar Rookie
We don’t need an experienced test level coach. We have 4 years to develop a great coach don’t we ? Was Rassie Erasmus an experienced international head coach when he took over the Boks ? Er ......no
Olly
Roar Rookie
It would be great to get an Australian Coach but none are ready to be a head coach yet. Ewen McKenzie has given up on coaching and has not coached since the Wallabies. A massive waste of Australian Rugby Coaching and the sacking of him was the start of the coaching void. Larkham is not a test level head coach and simply has not got the results. Jim McKay is an attack coach not a head coach. He needs to be a Head Coach in a top tier comp with success first. Also, he has not shown the results at the Reds with attack yet. Eddie Jones is the only Australian coach option. Unfortunately the rest are about 4 years short on experience and just shows the magnitude of the failings of investing in coaching in the country. We need a highly experienced and successful coach at Wallabies level to kick start the career for our other coaches. Eddie Jones and Jamie Joseph are my personal preference. They are Test rugby proven with good results. Dan McKeller is the future of Australian rugby but more development is needed.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
I’m a Simmons fan. Not so much QC. Neither is a solution really. Best to move on.
Wigeye
Guest
Remember that game Larkin looked like he'd seen a ghost looking scared face I wonder what was going on behind the scenes then,.........2, don't let the cancer ous Kearns anywhere near the wallaby's as he's a great legend with his offsider s who watched and did nothing
Cantab
Roar Rookie
Would be huge if the wallabies can get Rennie, no coach has changed the game more. He won 2 super rugby titles with a bang average chiefs team based on 2 principles that he built the whole team around 1. Never attack a set defensive line outside the opposite 22 2. 1st & 2nd phase counter attack is where you score the majority of your points. The All Blacks then copied this blueprint for what would be their most dominant period of the professional era. Then other teams followed Then teams started to counter the counter attack rugby, by playing the right wing as a second fullback to add more cover defence. We saw in NZ this with the likes of b Smith and Dagg playing on the wing. All teams like the idea of counter attack rugby, but he was the guy who made it the primary focus, the guy who said to what practicing at training today? Same thing we practice everyday - counter attack rugby. Would also make a good attacking/backs coach Now Jamie Joseph as head coach, Rennie as the backs coach and Thorn as the forwards coach. And well well well, wallabies you might be onto something there.
jaysper
Roar Guru
I dont like Castle but lets get real here. Standard practice with ANY position is to announce it ONLY after the contract is signed.
Brian
Guest
100%. I am convinced that Cooper's toxic comment had nothing to do with coaching and everything to do with factional behaviours within the playing group.
Brian
Guest
There was an interesting article written soon after Cheika was installed as coach. Apparently one of his demands was that there were to be no-one in the dressing room other than players and coaching staff. Another article suggested that there were members of the hierarchy who insisted on imparting their own knowledge from experience on the playing group during the break. I read this a McKenzie trying to limit the influence of non-coaching staff by staying on the field.
Wallie
Roar Rookie
Very interesting!
WayneS
Roar Rookie
I am surprised that Johnson isn't taking over the coaching job as that appeared to be his normal modus operandi in the past. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/109438257/have-the-aussies-bought-a-dud-in-scott-johnson-the-wallabies-new-director-of-rugby
WayneS
Roar Rookie
Couldn’t do any worse and worth a thought considering the current CEO is from a netball background.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Fisher as forwards coach..
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Larkham has only recently started a three year contract with Munster
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
True, that’s what I am thinking too, but they can be part time assistants as Larkham was originally......RA need to start thinking outside the box.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Right. That's it. Enough chat. I'm now making myself available to coach the Wallabies. Having coached in two countries I have important international experience. The fact that one of those teams was a girls team means I'll fit in well and be able to relate to the squad. The fact that the other team was full of young school leavers that had no idea how to play rugby or the rules means I'll fit in well with the RA board. Give me a 4 year contract with no supervision and I'm ready to go!!!