Stephen Moore has urged Rugby Australia to learn from a “pretty unfortunate 12 months” and not be afraid of the prospect of appointing a foreigner as the next Wallabies coach.
The former Test skipper said the code now had a chance to reboot after the ousting of chairman Hamish McLennan and exit of coach Eddie Jones following their historic pool-stage World Cup exit this year.
The veteran hooker of 129 Tests has a vested interest.
Moore is the Queensland chief executive of global insurance broker BMS Group, who will be revealed as the Queensland Reds’ front-shirt sponsor and inaugural naming rights partner of the National Rugby Training Centre on Wednesday.
Moore is convinced the code’s ceiling remains high and the commercial partnership with Queensland Rugby Union, stretching until 2027, “made sense”.
New Zealand assistant coach Joe Schmidt before the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris, France. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
He said thorough processes were needed at RA after some “strange decision making” led to uncertainty around the direction of the code.
“It almost became untenable with both those guys,” he told AAP of Jones and McLennan.
“It’s good to be out the other side of that.
“It was a pretty unfortunate time, the last 12 months for Australian rugby.
“It doesn’t mean the change is finished; it still needs some regeneration of the board to get the best people involved to take the game to where it needs to go.
“I’ve seen some green shoots there in the last few weeks; starting to talk about the things that matter rather than having a crack at other codes.
“Rugby’s still facing great challenges but fundamentally it’s a great game with a lot of upside if we get it right.”
Moore argued it was a good time to be in the market for a head coach and nationality should not have any bearing on the decision.
“We just need to have the best coach and it’s no secret we haven’t been great at developing our own coaches,” Moore said.
“So you need to look outside; it’d be wise to cast a wide net and pick the absolute best possible.
“If that’s (New Zealand’s) Joe Schmidt that’s great, if that’s (Ireland’s) Ronan O’Gara that’s great and if it’s (Australian) Dan McKellar that’s great too.
“We need to go through that process and we didn’t do that with Eddie and … it probably came back to bite us.”
Moore said he and business partner Peter Apolakiatis had worked with their London head office to secure a principal partnership deal with the QRU.
He lauded Brad Thorn’s contribution as coach but felt they had reached their ceiling under the dual international and new mentor Les Kiss was equipped to move the needle.
Impressed by the new Ballymore facility, he felt the Reds could again become one of the best supported sporting outfits in the country.
“It was run down over the last 20 years, Ballymore, and that reflected in the feeling around the place,” Moore said.
“But when you go there now it’s a professional feel and it rubs off.
“The players feel that and at some point we need to see that reflected on the field.”
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
Saviour I hope not. That’s why the Wallabies are in the position they are in. Looking for the shortcut.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Basically RA don't have the clout to persuade Robbie Deans.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Sure, but already there's an unfounded sense of a saviour complex with some.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
It's probably more about the Best Available Coaches King.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Joe Schmidt, Ronan O'Gara and Dan Mckeller are not the best coaches in the world. Perhaps the first part of the process is to make a list of the best coaches in the world, and then try and get them.
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
Just a reminder: After 8 rounds in the Premiership, The Dan McKeller coached Tigers are in 7th / 10 (from 1st before he arrived) similar to the Wallabies 38%.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Coaches make great players.
Olly
Roar Rookie
With the centralized structure of performance and coaches. An absolute gun of a head coach is required. I can't see any active Australian coaches that would meet this requirement at the moment.
Footy Franks
Roar Rookie
Yeah a great coach will solve all the problems and get us the Bledisloe. Don’t need good players just good coaches , assistants and psychologists
numpty
Roar Rookie
Moore was one of the few who questioned the 'captain's pick' of Eddie back in Jan so have to give him credit. And he is absolutely right, we need systems in place rather than jumping from one messiah to the next. This is what Raelene did with the hiring of rennie and co, lets see if we can't go back to something similar.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
The Killer is "Expectation". That's what has killed pretty much every coach since possibly Link...Except the most recent that shall not be named. The want/need for results - to win immediately and keep winning. From the Board to the average punter, this seems to be non-negotiable. The reality Australian Rugby is in a bit of a state of disrepair at the moment. The expectation needs to change to bringing the best players in the country to the next level! If they are not good enough, so be it. But the building of the next generation of players (grassroots), that's where success should be gauged at present. Clear and obvious progress, that's the man you guys need.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
I was initially against a foreign coach as that channel hasn't worked for us well. But with the basket case politics that is Australian Rugby maybe its the best thing. Doesn't matter who they get. Until Aus rugby starts working as one its going to be difficult for anyone who comes in to the madhouse in any position. If a foreign coach is appointed they should bring foreign assistants and support staff with them to eliminate undue state ego's, bias and influence. I doubt any of this will happen Probably the reverse. Thats how Aus rugby rolls these days and it will eat itself alive until it dies. Its pessimistic view but its the reality.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Thorn would make a good "fencer" out Longreach way, having some good conversations with the locals ( sheep and moo moos)
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
I think he wants to come round to your house and fix your little red wagon.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
Happy to hear from Moore and he is definitely giving back. Could be a good year 2024. I think we will bounce back. Who’s the coach going to be Santa. All the Roarers have been good boys and girls. Honestly!!
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Anyone know what Thorn is doing? He did a great job in Queensland since his retirement and we should be looking at his next step.