Director appointed as Cheika keeps job
SYDNEY: Rugby Australia has responded to its worst test campaign in 60 years by appointing Scott Johnson as director of rugby over retained head coach Michael Cheika and instituting a national selection panel to choose the team.
Cheika has been under intense pressure after the Wallabies won just four of 13 tests and slumped to sixth in the world rankings in a year when coaches would be looking to set out their stall as next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan approaches.
A former Australia A, United States and caretaker Wales and Scotland coach, Johnson has been director of rugby at Scotland Rugby since 2013 and overseen an improvement in the fortunes of the Scottish game.
He will take up his new position in March.
‘‘We are very pleased to have retained the services of Scott Johnson, who has built a strong reputation in the international rugby landscape over more than decade,’’ RA chief executive Raelene Castle told a news conference.
‘‘Since taking over as director of rugby in Scotland, the national team has climbed to its highest ever world ranking of fifth.
‘‘We are confident Michael is the right man to lead the Wallabies to the World Cup and the appointment of Scott Johnson will support Michael and his coaching team as they prepare for the tournament in Japan next September.’’
Cheika (51), who will be part of the selection panel with his new boss and an independent selector, welcomed Johnson’s appointment.
‘‘It’s a great move for Australian rugby and I know it will prove to be the best longterm structure for the game in this country,’’ he was quoted as saying.
‘‘I’m looking forward to working with Scott and finishing the work that I started by making Australians proud of our performance.’’
Castle also announced an ‘‘aligned national high performance model’’ under which Australia’s four Super Rugby teams will work more closely with national team coaches as happens in New Zealand and Ireland.
RA will also set up a ‘‘fighting fund’’ to ensure that top young talent in the game is not lost to rugby league and to attract young players from other codes.
Yesterday’s announcement means that Cheika survives to take the twiceworld champions to a second World Cup tournament after leading them to the final in 2015 a year after taking over from Ewen McKenzie.
Cheika has already confirmed that he will leave the post after next year’s tournament. — Reuters