Michael Cheika – Wallabies coach
The penny has finally dropped. The Wallabies know they need to resolve their scrum shortcomings or they will fall short at the World Cup next year.
According to media reports in both Australia and New Zealand Wallaby coach Michael Cheika appears to be close to securing a ‘scrum guru’ to solve his team’s set-piece woes before next year’s World Cup.
After watching the Australian pack get pushed around by Wales and England on the end-of-year tour, Cheika flagged an overhaul of the Wallabies’ scrum.
Sources close to Cheika said he is poised to add a big-name “been there, done that” scrum technician to his coaching unit.
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Andrew Blades is currently Australia’s forwards coach and it’s not known if any new scrum coach would be an addition to the staff, or replace Blades.
Cheika was tightlipped when asked about the speculation, saying only that he hoped to finalise his entire coaching team in early January.
However, speculation has it that he is scouting across the Tasman Sea for a solution.
When appointed as Waratahs coach at the end of 2012, Cheika travelled to New Zealand to persuade former All Black centre and Crusaders assistant coach Daryl Gibson to join Super Rugby’s perennial under-achievers in Sydney.
The wily coach also sold his vision to Crusaders and All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens and his astute recruiting culminated in Gibson and Mehrtens helping the Waratahs land an elusive Super Rugby championship this year.
It is obvious Cheika won’t be afraid to cross enemy lines again for the Wallabies cause.
Tired of watching the Wallabies pack being pushed and shoved around, Cheika said technical and strategic changes were essential for Australia to compete with pool rivals England and Wales at next year’s global showpiece in Britain.
It is understood he has already held advanced discussions with some candidates.
While World Cup-winning hooker and former Wallabies assistant coach Michael Foley was mooted to have been in the mix for a return to the national ranks, he is committed to the Western Force.
Cheika’s star recruit is more likely to be from another country.