McKenzie pulls out of running for Wallabies job

[aussies1st]

NSW Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie has reportedly pulled out of the running for the vacant Wallabies coaching position.

McKenzie had expressed interest in taking control of the national side following the sacking of Eddie Jones last month, but is set to announce today that he will remain with NSW, according to a report in The Australian.

McKenzie is currently contracted to the Waratahs for the upcoming Super 14 season, but his deal with NSW is due to expire in May.

Prospective coaches have until Friday to apply for the national job and McKenzie was believed to be one of the favourites for the position.

Former Queensland coach John Connolly is now the new favourite to get the nod from the three-man selection panel of former Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen, high performance general manager Peter Davis and former Test great Simon Poidevin.

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/news/off-the-field/mckenzie-pulls-out-of-wallabies-job/2006/01/09/1136655114725.html

Good dam Connolly favourites for wallabies coach. His record is no where near up to it. Oh well as long as he brings in youngsters he can get the job.

 

[Woods99]

Good dam Connolly favourites for wallabies coach. His record is no where near up to it. Oh well as long as he brings in youngsters he can get the job.

He will get the forwards up to the mark. He had a lot of success with Queensland over the years, he won a lot of local derbies against the Waratahs.

 

[ozbash]

the best coach in aussie is helping to coach the Auck blues.

Nucifora.

 

[lockyno1]

Nuicifora should get it end of story!

 

[blackfriday]

yeh i reckon nucifora is the man. i thought mckenzie was better off finishing off what he started at the tahs to get a monkey off his back. the next wallabies coach will be a fall guy, because steady eddie has left the wallabies waist-deep in shit and whoever takes over will have a rough ride, especially if georgie hasnt been dumped.

 

[aussies1st]

I agree Nuicifora is by far the best. I hope he puts his name in the bag now that Ewen has stepped down.

 

[bayrep]

I heard that part of the criteria was that the Aus coach had to have 7 years experience at provicial level. Nuicifora has only 3-4 years which rules him out. Which means that the ARU would have to make an exception to allow him to enter his name for the top job. The ARU are the ones that made the 7 year criteria as well.

 

[Jackal Dog]

Well seems Nucifora is content to coach the Blues going by the latest news, next thing you know the ARU will be begging someone to take the job!

 

[Matt23]

Is Sir Clive Woodward an option?

 

[aussies1st]

Nope he was ruled out due to the ARU not accepting non aussies basically ruling out Mitchell.

 

[Matt23]

Why dont the ARU just make Gregan the captain coach :roll:

 

[Gruenen]

I think Mr Nucifora would have been the best candidate for the job.

However, some news has come to light with Mr Deans - Coach Canterbury Crusaders being mentioned. Yesterday the reporters queried this with Mr Deans, but he made no comment.

I believe that there is more to this story then mere supposition. When you consider that Mr Deans was assistant All Blacks coach to Mr Mitchell during the 2003 campaign.

I hasten to add, that should there be any truth to this, the ARU would probably need to revise their candidacy rules to allow a foreignor to coach a national team.

Putting that to oneside, Mr Deans has an excellent record whether he is good enough to coach at a National level remains to be seen. But, Mr Deans would be in position to call upon technical support within Australia from the likes of Mr Mitchell (unofficial capacity), Mr (Tim) Sheens etc.

Incidentally before and during the 2003 campaign Messers Mitchell and Deans approached Mr Sheens with the possibility of recruiting Tim to the All Blacks Coaching staff. I would venture to say, that Robbie Deans would consider Tim Sheen's invovlement, (and where it does not conflict with his NRL committments) purely in a defensive capacity.

 

[lockyno1]

That would be a good choice if the ARU decides to go down that path!

 

[Jackal Dog]

Nope he was ruled out due to the ARU not accepting non aussies basically ruling out Mitchell.

Not any longer according to Gary Flowers, although they would prefer a aussie coach they are willing to let international ones apply now it seems.

 

[ThrashViking]

Robbie Deans should be handed the coaching position.
John Connolly's coaching record looks very poor compared to Robbie Deans & John Mitchell's.

 

[Jackal Dog]

Is he the Crusaders coach? cause last night on the news they said the current Crusaders coach had been linked to the job....

 

[Gruenen]

Greetings Jackal Dog,

Robbie Deans is the current Crusaders Coach.

Reference: http://www.crfu.co.nz/

At this stage the news is pure speculation, I guess we would find out in due course when the ARU has finalised and closed the applications.

In hindsight, it is difficult to come to terms with Robbie Deans considering such a decision as it would appear he is very much a "Red and Black" meaning Canterbury Man. I suspect that this news has been filtered from outside sources, more likely from the ARU.

Should Robbie Deans consider this vacancy seriously, I suspect that it would be on the basis, that the ARU have possibly approached him with an attractive offer to coach once again at a National level.

Time will tell whether this is Fact or Fallacy.

 

[aussies1st]

Robbie Deans should be handed the coaching position.
John Connolly's coaching record looks very poor compared to Robbie Deans & John Mitchell's.

It won't happen as all of them have basically ruled themself out. Heck anyone of us could put our hand up and we could have a job.
Nucifora like Ewen is staying with his super 14 club so Connolly will get the job.

 

[bayrep]

I thought Connolly was forced out of the Reds job becuase he was doing such a shocking job. He comes back from 2 years in Sunny old England and he is the front runner. Surely the ARU has a bit more depth in coaching stocks. Are there no coachs at club level that have been winning comps consistantly ?

 

[aussies1st]

Well the super 14 coaches, Fisher isn't ready, Ewen doesn't want it, Mitchell who knows what going on but he isn't in the running, and Jeff Miller won't have a job next year due to his shocking performance.
We are really thin on coaching stock.