Wallabies 2025

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Would Peter Wilkins be a name to come up. Connacht not killing right now but he's got fairly extensive resume building with experience in Aus Rugby based in QLD for a long time. Spent time with Farrell and Ireland as well.

This does speak to our lack of coach development as well even though good coach depth goes hand in hand with domestic success which hasn't been great for a decade. I hope the next Super Rugby job to come up gets RA on the phone to a guy like Halangahu who seems to be doing a great job with the Blues. Has said he likes it in NZ but pro jobs are pro jobs and I think you would move for a HC position.

 

[Dctarget]

Is he better placed than the Super Rugby coaches? I know he's highly regarded but is similarly inexperienced at test level.

He's won the Champions Cup twice compared to our Aussie coaches who have exactly zero trophies between them.

He's the same level that Link, Cheika, Deans etc were before being appointed to international.

 

[fatprop]

I know La Rochelle are good but they're not above Australia. Especially as they're a middling team this year. ROG's best immediate shot at international rugby is Australia.

I expect him to be the next Irish coach

 

[Wilson]

Depending on working relationship with Schmidt, O'Gara could be a real shot. Pretty rare you get a chance at tier 1 international coaching with the opportunity to have a coach like Schmidt in a consultancy role to help you make the step up while still getting to make the team your own. Particularly with most countries so focused on bringing new coaches in through their systems right now if they don't have international experience. He's sitting in a bit of a no man's land where he'd almost have to take a backwards (or at least lateral) step to get a shot a tier 1 head coach role otherwise. That is unless he wants the Welsh job, but he's already said he wasn't interested in that one.

 

[fatprop]

I get where you're coming from but I think our players are capable of adapting, and one of Cheika's biggest strengths is getting players up to speed quickly

And I'd be quite nervous trying to force a coach to keep playing a Schmidt style when they aren't Joe Schmidt

I have no issue with the director of rugby ('ish) model that sets an agreed style of play and the coach comes in essentially committed to that basic style

 

[Wilson]

I expect him to be the next Irish coach

That won't be until at least 2028 though, there's no way they move on from Farrell yet, and if he manages to finally get them to a semi in 2027 I can't see them moving on. He'd need Farrell to be really keen on jumping to England (and England keen on grabbing him) for the job to open up.

I also think the Irish are really committed to bringing coaches through either their URC sides or assistant roles first, O'Gara is a long time out of their systems so they might be hesitant unless there in a bind.

 

[Dctarget]

I was going to say the same. The obvious moves are Farrell to England and ROG to Ireland eventually. But I'd imagine Ireland are even more reluctant than us to to take on a project coach.

Another option could be Franco Smith. He's been doing well with Glasgow.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Yep very well. Stark difference from another Wallabies HC candidate, McKellar who left mid contract last year after finishing 8th (out of 10).

Leicester are sitting in 3rd and are playing a pretty fun brand of rugby.

Yeah they finished 8th but it was with a 50% win record (9/18) and a +27 for and against.

Currently they are 4th with a 55% win record (6/11) and a +14 for and against.

The standings don't tell the only story.

 

[Wilson]

O'Gara keen for the wallabies job:

O’Gara keen on Wallabies job as RA opens door to overseas candidates

The highly rated Irishman has thrown his hat into the Wallabies’ coaching ring with Joe Schmidt set to step down in October.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Derpus]

O’Gara confirmed his interest in the Wallabies’ role to this masthead by saying in a text message, “Yes. Keen. Be a great team to work with.”

Could be responding to a mates suggestion for a beero.

 

[Wilson]

Sounds like he's a culture fit then

 

[noscrumnolife]

Would be mad not to get ROG if he's keen.
None of the Aussie coaches are exactly bashing the door down. And I think we should maximise cohesion and consistency as much as possible. Keep the Super coaches where they are IMO and let them build.

 

[Adam84]

Setting aside the parochial nonsense... none of the current Super Rugby coaches would be brilliant selections you'd think but it looks like we'll be recruiting mid cycle again.

I agree… i thought they’re all a bit meh in terms of test credentials, but if that’s the extent of availability I’m not going to throw my toys out of the cot if one gets selected over the other.

 

[Adam84]

Would be mad not to get ROG if he's keen.
None of the Aussie coaches are exactly bashing the door down. And I think we should maximise cohesion and consistency as much as possible. Keep the Super coaches where they are IMO and let them build.

Maybe he will bring Suliasi Vunivalu back with him from La Rochelle if he becomes Wallabies coach

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Duncan McRae on his ticket as an assistant

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Excluding Cheika, are there any proven international coaches available?

If we decide to take a risk, I wouldn't hate the idea of seeing if Felix Jones is interested in taking a role with us.

Hansen?
I’d chase ROG
He isn’t going to get the Irish job soon
Surely he would t want England as a proud irishman
Wales a shit show
Scotland less upside and seem to be humming so no change pending.
Aus his best opp for tier 1 coaching
He should jump at it
Mckellar wasn’t good in uk and is just back for nsw
Kiss barely settled.
Go hard for ROG

 

[stoff]

Time to pull out the Cheik book...

Sounding out blokes like Vern Cotter, Nianber, ROG etc would be due diligence and we may get lucky.

It’s just a year early for Cheik. He seems like a 13 months out guy for best effect.

 

[KOB1987]

It’s just a year early for Cheik. He seems like a 13 months out guy for best effect.

He essentially would be as his first game would be July 26. Edit, sorry forgot about the EOYT. I think his real tenure in terms of his own selections etc would start in July 26 though.

 

[sterlingmortlocksgloves]

In my opinion it's time to pull the pin on Cheik and move on. For the past decade he's lived off the fact that he made the RWC final in 2015 and TBH if I were coach I would too. But the fact is, as Wallabies head coach since then and before his departure after the 2019 world cup, he hadn't won a game against England and went 2-9 against the All Blacks; the only 2 nations that true fans believe are must wins. And this was with the same squad that made that 2015 final just without Giteau.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I don't want Cheik anywhere near the Wallaby job. It'd be like EJ (Eddie Jones) all over again, but perhaps with a little bit less dickhead-ery