Potential Wallabies coach Dan McKellar has been given a massive wrap by England legend Ben Youngs after turning around Leicester Tigers fortunes over the past few weeks.
After a 5-0 losing start to life at the Tigers, where the team was impacted by the World Cup, McKellar has won three Premiership games on the the trot including a 47-3 win over Newcastle Falcons on Monday (AEDT).
The next challenge for McKellar – considered a candidate to replace Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach – is to take the team into the Champions Cup tournament with an opening game against the Stormers.
“What I loved about that performance is it had Leicester Tigers written all over it,” McKellar told reporters after an impressive win in terrible conditions.
“You could clearly see our DNA and what we value as a team.
“Particularly in the conditions which were obviously challenging for the players and our supporters I thought our execution and discipline were outstanding.
“Newcastle are a team that score points, and they can hurt you at the maul so to leave here today having not conceded is really good reward is pleasing.”
Leicester Tigers’ Head Coach Dan McKellar. (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)
McKellar said he knew he could turn around the fortunes despite the difficult start.
“Despite the fact results weren’t going our way early on, we were all on-board with the path we were taking and trusted that sticking together, backing the process and preparing well would lead to good performances which results come off the back of,” McKellar said.
“I said at the time that I’d been here before when I took over at the Brumbies. Evolving your game but maintaining your principles as a club takes time, but I have to say that the buy-in from day one has been there and the performances these past couple of weeks is great reward for our players and staff.
“It’s important to enjoy your wins along the way but we know there’s plenty of challenges ahead starting this week against the Stormers.
“I’ve obviously watched the European Cup in the past, the Champions Cup now from afar and have always wanted to be part of it and the players are no different so we’ll enjoy this win tonight and get in on Tuesday with plenty of energy and excitement.”
Youngs, England’s most capped men’s player, has been at Leicester for 17 seasons.
“Dan’s been terrific, I really enjoy him as a bloke. He’s got a real good, Australian way of wanting to play,” he said after the win.
“We want to be more ambitious and move the ball more and all that. I like the way it’s heading, I like him. The team’s trying to develop and move quickly.”
McKellar recently moved to douse speculation that he could be in the Wallabies frame, but suggestions persist that he is being considered along with candidates including Joe Schmidt and Stephen Larkham.
“One thing I can’t control is media speculation, and that’s what it is,” McKellar told BBC Sports Leicester last month.
“It’s media speculation and they’ve got to fill newspapers and websites and put stories in place for people to read and that’s completely out of my control.
“I’ve moved my family here, we’re very happy here. Girls are at school, loving life in the Midlands, and that’s all I’m focusing on.”
The Roar reported that McKellar has a clause that would allow him to take up a national team job.
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
What has Steve Larkham done as a coach that makes you think he should be the Wallabies coach?
Mike88
Roar Rookie
Typo. They finished top regular and won in the same year. I've sacked my proof reader. Standards. Anyhoo, back to the point. Leicester was good. Now, not so good. And while he might have a clause, if he doesn't start getting wins against decent opposition, he might not need to worry about it.
Mike88
Roar Rookie
He had a single good season as Wallabies coach. He had many poor ones. Painting him as a proven winner is complete rubbish. I say again. His record is superior to any coach afterwards. His 'one good season' had us up near the top of the world with a RC and runner up in the RWC. As far as I'm aware, he's the only Australian coach to win a Shute shield, the Heineken Cup, SR title and a rugby championship. That to many is a proven winner. I don't want him back. But trying to win an arguement through force of opinion doesn't wash.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
sorry - we're in like round 7 or 8... and the Tigers are 7th...
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
McKeller has taken the 1st ranked team to 7th. When he joined the Wallabies they won 38% including first ever loss to Italy. What else is there?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
They didn't finish top in 22/23. They finished 3rd. The point is making is based on judging from how the team started in a season where the first month has been heavily impacted by RWC player absences. Anybody trying to point to that as any indication of how a team will perform over a season is a full, or attempting to mislead.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So if I’m reading your love of stats right, Cheika post 2015 had a record better than the next 2 coaches. If you ignore the strength of the teams faced. RWC years give the opportunity for the highest win rate ever. It was our equal worst ever RWC result in 2019 (at the time) but won 60% of games. In regular seasons where fixture was similar to 2020-2022 he took the team to 40% and 30%. He had a single good season as Wallabies coach. He had many poor ones. Painting him as a proven winner is complete rubbish.
Mike88
Roar Rookie
They won in 21/22 and finished top in regular season 22/23. The point he's making is pretty obvious. He's beaten the two bottom teams and Northampton.
Mike88
Roar Rookie
So if I'm reading your love of stats right, Cheika post 2015 had a record better than the next 2 coaches. Brilliant. Also cool to gloss over he took us to the RWC final in 2015 - this after winning the rugby championship (and three time runner up afterwards). Also recently took Argentina to the semis a team that now claims wins in New Zealand and regularly over the wallabies. Won SR title.... Won a Heineken Cup.... But you don't like him, and of course, the stats, so he can't coach. I'm not advocating rehiring him. But I just love the spin you guys come up with. Much like McKellar. He's on a role. Won 3 games! Against rock bottom Newcastle who haven't beaten anyone and second from bottom Gloucester. They sit 7th. He's definitely the guy we need.
mjseesred
Roar Rookie
I was thinking a rugby coach is like a bottle of red. You need the right wine for the right occassion. My old man has a nice little cellar and as he says you crack it to early its going to be a bit rough. So leave it a few years and its smooth and amazing. The key then is when you open give it time to breath. Back to the rugby coach. We seem to crack em too early as wallaby coaches, so their not fully ready or pick a bottle that has been there too long and turned. I hope they leave both Dan and Bernie on the shelf to mature. We need a bottle that has aged properly, for now. Lets hope RA find him. And the likes of Cheika, we opened the bottle 5 years ago, I dont want a bottle that we put the cork back in and placed back on the shelf, look what happened when we did it with Vintage Eddie.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That’s the results. Is it clueless to consider these?
Cec
Roar Rookie
Don’t deflect Biscuits! Clown is still in the 40’s% against tier 1 with WBs. Whether I like the Clown or not doesn’t change that fact :thumbup:
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
Your clueless. Obviously he rubs you the wrong way that the real issue.
cs
Roar Guru
Dunno about the last point dubya. But agree there's something of a parallel between the coaches and 10s. In the forthcoming hunger games, may the coach who can produce the best 10 win!
W Evans
Roar Rookie
There’s a pattern there though isn’t there? All our coaches, most of our 10s all need ‘an extra couple of years.’ Absolute failure in process stemming from a lack of cooperation between the states and national body.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Clown is in the low 40% without the tier 2 wins. He’s a provincial coach, that is all.
cs
Roar Guru
I gather that ship has sailed Biscuits, so the point is moot in any event.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Roar Rookie
IMO he should stay were he is for the near future and enjoy his sojourn coaching a good side. The learning curve will be good for him and his future. I have an opinion that Larkham should be the Wallabies coach with Gilmore the Aus A side coach his assistant. Blades could be the scrum coach and then have a team manager. That to me is enough coaches to coach the national side Too many coaches muddies the message that the head coach is sending and this leads to confusion within the team.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
When were they ranked 1st?
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
Wish Dan all the best, but while he might have the right temperament, I don't think he is the best person to lead the Wallabies. While he may have turned the corner with Leicester, the three wins also coincide with a few internationals (including Handre Pollard and Julian Montoya) returning. Didn't really achieve anything with the Brumbies and was instrumental in the Wallabies maul becoming impotent.