Tuesday’s Rugby News has a new Wallabies coach, and old Wallabies coach, a current CEO, a future star, and a soon-to-be former international referee.
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Let’s Move Hastily
After five years of watching Cheika and the Wallabies make rash decisions, it’s begun to wear off on Rugby Australia as they seek to put a new coach in by Christmas, according to Fox Sports.
Raelene Castle apparently has a list of coaches she’d love to put in charge.
Glasgow’s Dave Rennie, formerly of the Chiefs – who he turned around from being poo to Super Rugby champs – is at the head of the list.
Joe Schmidt, returning from Ireland, and some dude called Eddie Jones is also on the list.
“I understand he (Jones) is contracted through to 2021 with England,” Castle told reporters.
“As I said, we’ve done the work on different names, different understandings. We’ve got a list of people and we know who we will be talking to.”
Rennie has long-been rumoured as the next Wallabies coach. The Kiwi, who has had success with the Chiefs as well as the previously underperforming Glasgow Warriors (who he took to a Pro14 final), also conveniently has a contract that ends in 8 months.
On top of that, he’s living in Glasgow when he could be living in Sydney.
Schmidt, meanwhile, is heading back home after 72 years coaching Ireland.
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Sack Castl-oh wait
Raelene Castle has sort-of fired back at Cheika, after Cheika told the whole world that “it was no secret” that he didn’t have a relationship with the CEO or board. Testament to Australian rugby media to keeping that “no secret” a secret.
Anyway – Castle has said she was (no shit) disappointed with Cheika’s results in the World Cup, or the results in general.
“I don’t think anyone would think that he have been satisfied with the results. I think it has been a very challenging time,” Castle said (via rugby.com.au)
According to GeeRob on the SMH Podcast, Castle asked Cheika “if there was anything RA could do to help” Cheika. Cheika replied saying there was nothing, and when last year happened, Castle saw off Larkham and appointed Scott Johnson above Cheika.
“I think we did a thorough review at the end of last year and we looked at the options that we had available to us that could not just think about Rugby World Cup but think about the longer-term options for rugby in Australia,” Castle said.
“We made the decision in appointing Scott Johnson into that (DOR) role and to think about, yes, the improvements he could bring to the program in the short-term but definitely with the long-term strategy as well.”
“We looked very long and hard at the end of last year and what we felt we needed to put in place and that’s not just about the Wallabies head coach, that’s about putting a high performance plan in place that allows growth and development of out 16’s, 18’s, right up to our Wallabies and we have seen some improvements because of that processes in place, with our 18’s winning and our 20’s winning, or nearly winning, but performing really well,” continued to soon-to-be-sacked by popular demand Castle.
“And the integration of the Super Rugby franchises into the Wallabies up and down and working much more closely together is the system that we need and we need it to work really well. So there have been some changes already. Those changes will put us in a much stronger places moving into the next four years.”
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Jordy Is A Keeper
A host of senior players have heaped praise on Jordy Petaia, according to rugby.com.au
“The only person you’ve got to look at is Jordan, look how good he was, he was amazing, 19 years old, was one of the best players on the field, not just for us but for both teams,” Will Genia said.
“You’ve got guys like that coming through, coupled with guys who have built a lot of experience who are still young. Our skipper (Michael Hooper), who will play 100 Tests the very next time he laces up the boots, (the) forward pack, I think we’re in a really good position.”
Beale (who has 1 year left on his Tahs contract), who himself hasn’t ruled out a 2023 World Cup, said he expects to see Petaia there.
“He is a special kid. He will be flying,” Beale said.
“He will be a superstar and it’s important that he is in a really strong rugby program. Australian rugby now has Dean Benton as S&C (coach) and he runs a very good program for the outside backs.
“You can see a big improvement in Jordy to this point, with the way he trains, and if he has that same application and commitment to his training, no doubt he will be a superstar in years to come.”
Captain Michael Hooper also had good things to say, saying “It says a lot about some of the guys we’ve got coming through and there’s some guys not even here that are going to be great in this jersey going forward,” adding that he was “one of our best”.
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Good Judge
Jaco Peyper is being investigated by World Rugby for making a bad decision – but it has nothing to do with his refballing of Wales on the weekend.
No no no. The pied one has been photographed with Welsh fans mimicking Sebastien Vahaamina’s red-card elbow action. As a consequence he is being investigated by World Rugby.
“World Rugby is aware of a picture on social media of referee Jaco Peyper with a group of Wales fans taken after last night’s quarter-final between Wales and France in Oita,” World Cup organisers said in a statement (via rugby.com.au)
“It would be inappropriate to comment further while we are establishing the facts.”
Embarrassing Peyper further was the French RU president – the brilliantly named Serge Simon – retweeting the photo with the comment, “If this photo is genuine, it is shocking and explanations are needed.”
And in an interesting twist, when you reverse search the image, Google thinks you’re looking at Negroni. Not sure what to make of that.
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