Take a deep breath, Australia, everything is going to be OK.
Emotions are clearly raw after the Rugby World Cup and the turbulent exit of Michel Cheika, but if you take a step back and look at the likely outcome – it appears Dave Rennie will be the next coach – then it's a satisfactory one. He's a very good coach who I believe will have the Wallabies squad on board in five minutes flat.
But rather than thunder "this is what I believe and you must follow", let's just turn the volume down and address some of the issues out there, because they are all valid and deserve answers.
We needed to do more to get Eddie Jones
There's something in this one. Rugby Australia can justifiably point to Jones' contract with England (which runs to 2021) and say, "he's locked up". Fair enough. But the allure of Jones is so great that it would settle all arguments if RA could at least say "we tried" or Jones said "nah mate, I had my go". Otherwise, when the new coach hits a few bumps he will be beaten with the "we should have got Eddie" stick.
RA mustn't rush the process
I'm less sympathetic to this one. The search didn't begin when Cheika said he wasn't going to continue. Although he has painted the Wallabies loss to England as the trigger point for his exit I believe the likelihood of him keeping the job was already slim. So, work has been going on in the background about his replacement – in fact, RA will be one of the last remaining national unions to appoint a new coach post-Rugby World Cup. You could even argue they've left it quite late.
We need a big fish with Test credentials
The key point here is availability, both contractually and "emotionally". Let's take Japan coach Jamie Joseph and his right-hand man Tony Brown, for example (it's no secret that Brown runs the Japanese attack that won so many admirers).
Joseph might be contractually available but emotionally wants to coach the All Blacks. When he left the Highlanders to take the Japan job he had been told by NZ rugby bosses that if he wanted to coach the All Blacks he'd be best served by going overseas and getting some Test experience.
If the All Blacks fail to win the World Cup, Joseph will probably apply for the All Blacks job, no doubt with Brown on his ticket. If the All Blacks win, he could well stay in Japan. As for Brown, he has signed a three-year deal with the Highlanders (and also wants to coach at All Blacks level, and may do so next year, with or without Joseph).
Warren Gatland? Contracted to the Chiefs (and British and Irish Lions) and also wants to coach the All Blacks.
J
oe Schmidt? Burnt out and sounding very, very genuine when he says he'll prioritise his family. I'm not sure Schmidt will ever be a head coach again, certainly not of a big Test team.
After a meek World Cup exit and turbulent Michel Cheika era, Dave Rennie's likely appointment is a satisfactory one.
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