Super Rugby-winning mastermind Michael Cheika in line for Wallabies job
But does the Waratahs coach want to join such a dysfunctional organisation?
Michael Cheika is firming up as favourite to replace Ewen McKenzie as Australia coach this week but it remains to be seen whether he would want to join an organisation that has shown itself to be so dysfunctional over the past two weeks.
McKenzie quit just hours before the Wallabies lost 29-28 to New Zealand in Brisbane as a result of the turmoil surrounding the squad after utility back Kurtley Beale allegedly sent offensive text messages to a team official.
I did not expect Ewen McKenzie to resign yesterday. I don’t even know who can get on a plane on Friday
New South Wales Waratahs coach Cheika is bound to top Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief Bill Pulver’s list of potential recruits after he brought the Super Rugby trophy to Sydney for the first time this year.
Jake White, who coached South Africa to World Cup triumph in 2007 and recently took up an advisory role with Tonga, is another possible candidate after being sounded out about the job last year before losing out to McKenzie.
There is a sense of urgency about Pulver’s search for two reasons – most immediately he needs someone on the plane with the squad on Friday for their four-test tour of Europe, and secondly because the World Cup is only 11 months away.
With a curtailed Rugby Championship and no June test series next year, a new coach that misses out on the tour of Europe, where Australia play World Cup group rivals England and Wales, would have precious little time to put his imprint on the squad.