Cheika reportedly agrees to coach Wallabies; Rugby Stuff

NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has agreed in principle to replace Ewen McKenzie in charge of the Wallabies, according to a report on Monday citing "an informed source".

Cheika led the Waratahs to the Super Rugby title last season, completing a unique coaching double after he guided Irish province Leinster to a Heineken Cup triumph in 2009. 

The report in The Australian said Cheika was hoping to retain control at the Waratahs and combine that role with his duties as national coach in the lead-up to next year's World Cup in England.

McKenzie dramatically resigned a few hours before the Wallabies lost 29-28 to the All Blacks in Brisbane on Saturday amid the turmoil caused by utility back Kurtley Beale allegedly sending offensive text messages to a team official.

Cheika's record makes him the favourite for the job ahead of World Cup-winning former South Africa coach Jake White, who was sounded out to replace Robbie Deans in July last year only to lose out to McKenzie.

The ARU is keen to appoint a coach before Friday when the squad depart for their tour of Europe, which features tests against Wales, France, Ireland and England.

ARU chief Bill Pulver said they would consider a caretaker coach if it was not possible to make a permanent appointment in time. 

With no June Tests and a curtailed Rugby Championship next season, however, that would allow the new coach precious little time to put his imprint on the squad. Other candidates mooted in local media were Australia's World Cup-winning former five-eighth Stephen Larkham, who is coach of ACT Brumbies, and Melbourne Rebels coach Tony McGahan.

Brumbies chief executive Doug Edwards said on Monday he would be hugely surprised if Larkham was not in Canberra next season. 

"You never say never, but I would be extremely surprised if they appoint Stephen as the Wallabies coach," he told Fairfax Media. 

"He's here for next year. He's very committed to Australian rugby and if there's a way he could help out, I'm sure he would if there was a way that would fit. But he'll stay at the Brumbies next year." 

- Reuters

Rough one for the Wallies! Less than a year to go before the World Cup, and now they have a new coach.

No matter who the coach Is, there is not enough time and there are not enough games to make the team his own.

Update: Cheika set for top job; NZ Herald

Successful Waratahs mentor Michael Cheika is set to be announced as the new Wallabies coach, with the NSW Rugby Union keen to ensure he masterminds their Super Rugby title defence before overseeing Australia's World Cup campaign.

Several websites on Monday afternoon stated Cheika had reportedly agreed to fill the position vacated by Ewen McKenzie after last Saturday's Test loss to New Zealand in Brisbane.

However, there was no immediate confirmation from the Australian Rugby Union.

On Twitter, the ARU said they were still investigating options and no coach had been locked in, but they hoped to have a solution in place before the Wallabies leave on Friday for their northern hemisphere spring tour.

Cheika confirmed he had held discussions with ARU officials, but stopped short of saying he had accepted an offer.

"It's a pretty humbling experience to be asked to be involved in something like that (the Wallabies' coaching role) but we'll see what happens," Cheika told reporters.

"There's a few things to iron out obviously - the logistics et cetera, everything being so close, so we'll see how it goes and work it out from there."

Cheika is believed to want to oversee the Waratahs' title defence before taking control of the Wallabies.

The NSWRU also want that to happen.

"We would fully endorse and support Michael if he was offered that (Wallaby) role, that's without fail," NSWRU chief executive Jason Allen told AAP on Monday.

"I think it's a great compliment for the many years of service he's provided in rugby.

"We would, however, respect that he would have to, with our best wishes, accept both roles for next season.

"It would be challenging, but with a small amount of inbound Tests, the board and I think that's achievable."

Asked if any deal with the ARU would be conditional on Cheika coaching the 'Tahs in 2015, Allen said: "We would find it very hard to accept a release without that condition.

"We've got an entity to protect as well."

Australia will play just four Tests next year prior to the World Cup - two against New Zealand and one each against Argentina and South Africa.

There are precedents for a coach performing Super and Test duties in the same season - although the appointments were made with relatively short notice.

In 2001, Eddie Jones coached the Brumbies to the Super title before accepting the Wallabies post after Rod Macqueen stood down mid-year.

New Zealander Robbie Deans coached the Crusaders to the most recent of their seven Super titles in 2008 before starting his tenure as Wallabies coach almost immediately after.

If appointed in time for the spring tour, Cheika would certainly hit the ground running.

A squad for the tour could be announced as soon as Tuesday.

One man not expected to tour, but who Cheika has been a big supporter of is Kurtley Beale, who will face an independent hearing on Friday into a couple of alleged indiscretions.

Broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones was critical of both McKenzie and the ARU.

It has been reported McKenzie could be approached to coach Argentina next year.

Former Wallabies centre Tim Horan thought McKenzie could look at returning to Europe, where he has previously coached Stade Francais, the same French club Cheika has also coached.

- AAP

 Australia is notorious for being able to turn their fortunes around, and if you think about it, it is much easier to get a group of players to focus on one short term goal and get them motivated for that period of time than sustaining a motivated team over four years.

Although their pack seem to lack grunt at times they are very smart at scrumtime, they managed the Argentine scrum a lot better than we did, somehow collapsed every scrum bar one, yet managed to get 50/50 on the calls, similarly against New Zealand.

Pocock the nightmare from Wellington in 2011 will be back, and their backline spells danger with players like Kurindrani, Folau and Speight joining them.

I certainly won't be writing their chances off.

A source close to Cheika confirmed he would take up the deal and was keen to bring in Stephen Larkham as an assistant coach and Michael Foley to work with the forwards.

A smiling Cheika, dressed in a Waratahs tracksuit top and black jeans, confirmed the offer late Monday when he spoke to the media out the front of Waratahs headquarters at Moore Park.

"It's a pretty humbling experience to be asked to be involved in something like that, but we'll see what happens," Cheika said.

Cheika is planning to remain in charge of the Waratahs next season and would like Larkham (Brumbies) and Foley (Force) also to stay at the helm of their respective provinces as he tries to build unity throughout the states for Australia's 2015 World Cup campaign.

"There are a few things to be ironed out, obviously the logistics, etc ... everything is so close. So we will see how it goes and work it out from there."

Asked if he was excited about the opportunity, he said: "Who wouldn't be excited in coaching [the Wallabies]."

Asked if the deal could be sealed before Friday when the team flies to Europe for its spring tour, Cheika said: "We'll see how it happens."

The strength of the Waratahs' say in any deal between him and the ARU has grown markedly.

Cheika still has one year to serve on his contract as Waratahs coach, so no agreement between the ARU and Cheika could be reached without the Waratahs' approval - and on his and their full terms. Waratahs chief executive Jason Allen made that clear after he spoke with the ARU chief executive on the telephone about matters he would not divulge.

With only a few days until the Wallabies fly out for their five-game tour, it is hard to imagine any discussion would not have something to do with pressing ARU matters. And for the ARU there is a mountain of those.

They include officially appointing and naming a new coach and the new management structure Bill Pulver said would be created before McKenzie resigned, approving and naming the Wallabies touring party initially scheduled for today, booking confirmed flights, and fine tuning arrangements for what is supposed to be a Wallabies celebration - the John Eales Medal dinner.

"I had a long chat with Bill about a number of things. I am not going to repeat what they were about," Allen said.

"All I will say is, if that were to eventuate with Michael Cheika [asked to coach the Wallabies], that's the position of the Waratahs board."

Asked what the Waratahs board position is, Allen said it remained as Waratahs chairman Roger Davis expressed last week. "We would want him to coach us next season, so we are willing to work with the ARU on the solution and wouldn't stop him obviously," Allen said.

"I know Roger said we would definitely support him in advancing his career. There is no doubt about it."

Meanwhile, Allen said any loss of Cheika's services to the Waratahs would only compound an already challenging number of issues they have to resolve before the 2015 season.

Firstly, if Cheika left, there would be the cost factor of a global search the Waratahs would have to execute to try and find the right person, at a time when there is not a flood of top available coaches.

During that search, the Waratahs would then have to appoint an interim coach from one of their two assistants, in former Crusaders assistant and All Black Daryl Gibson or former Wallaby Nathan Grey.

With the Waratahs having won their first ever Super title, losing Cheika could compromise their potential to win back-to-back titles - and with that, increased gate-taking and sponsorship opportunities.

"From a board position, we are on the lookout for a new CEO, and a new manager of commercial and marketing," said Allen, who will soon leave his position as CEO.

"[Finding] a head coach at this time of year ... [it] would prove to be a little difficult to find a suitable candidate. It would be bloody tough ... there are not too many coaches around at the moment.

"So we would want that ... [having Cheika still at the Waratahs] would be our perfect solution."

Allen was confident the ARU would recognise the Waratahs' issues and work with them to find the best solution for all parties.

"We have a pretty good working relationship with the ARU. If it did go that way I am sure we would work something out," Allen said.

"I don't think it would be in the ARU's interest to have any of the team put in a predicament where they are hanging off the edge. So surely there will be a sensible decision at the end of it."

Asked if he is confident that that would happen if Cheika was offered the Wallabies job, he said: "Who knows. I am not a decision maker of the ARU. As my chairman has put out, they know our position."

Asked if a subject of discussion in his conversation with Pulver was the Beale code of conduct tribunal, Allen said: "No  mate ...  Our position is loud and clear on Kurtley Beale.

"This is an ARU matter. Since it happened in an ARU period of time, we support an employee of ours - we support Kurtley - through this process."

- Sydney Morning Herald