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'There's going to be casualties' - Aussie pundit tips RA changes
Australian rugby pundit Greg Growden believes that Rugby Australia should look to New Zealand in search of a new head coach, and is tipping wholesale changes after current coach Michael Cheika meets with the board later this month.
During an appearance on New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB, Growden expressed his thoughts on the Wallabies’ coaching situation.
“I think there’s going to be casualties, and a lot of people are hoping it’s going to be Cheika,” he said.
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“He’s in a bit of strife and I think no matter what there will be some changes. If he doesn’t go, I think you’ll see some of the assistant coaches or some of the management team go.
“There’s been some people pushing for Cheika, but some people in Rugby Australia who haven’t been so keen and have been saying it’s time for a change.”
Cheika is set to meet with the board on Monday but Growden said Rugby Australia likely won’t make any announcements until later.
Growden suggested that if Rugby Australia decide to part ways with Cheika, New Zealand coaches should line up for the role.
“Why not look at Dave Rennie or Scott Robertson or another New Zealand coach?”, he said. “There is a bit of animosity towards New Zealand coaches here after Robbie Deans experiment, but Scott Johnson could do it with a couple of people here, could get Brad Thorn involved…there are options and there are quite a number of capable Australian coaches coaching overseas at the moment.
“There are some Australian coaches, but surely there are some New Zealand coaches who would want the challenge of coaching the Wallabies. It’s not a bad job because they can’t get much worse.”
The Wallabies are coming off their worst season in the professional era, where they recorded just four wins.
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