Aussies promise action after dismal World Cup

Melbourne – With the meek quarterfinal exit from the Rugby World Cup marking the definitive derailment of Michael Cheika’s roller-coaster tenure as Australia coach, the Wallabies are moving quickly to secure a replacement.

Rugby Australia (RA) has drawn up a list of targets and hopes to name Cheika’s successor by Christmas, CEO Raelene Castle told reporters in Japan.

The stance comes as the governing body is mindful of the competition to secure the world’s top rugby brains over the next four-year cycle before the 2023 World Cup in France.

New Zealand have yet to name a successor for Steve Hansen, who will step down after Japan, while England may also be looking for a replacement for Eddie Jones, who has said he may not see out the two years left on his contract.

Australian media have installed as favourite Glasgow Warriors coach Dave Rennie (below), a New Zealander who took the Chiefs to back-to-back titles in Super Rugby and was once seen as a candidate to take on the coveted All Blacks job.

Yet Jones, who coached the Wallabies to the 2003 World Cup final before being fired after a dreadful 2005 season, also has his backers among local pundits.

“I understand Jones is contracted through to 2021 with England,” said Castle, when asked if the Australian was a potential target.

“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.”

RA has promised a thorough review of what was branded Australia’s worst-ever World Cup campaign. –