Wallabies coach elect Michael Cheika was scrambling to finalise his support team on Tuesday night after Brumbies mentor Stephen Larkham ruled himself out of the end-of-year tour.
Cheika’s anticipated appointment wasn’t announced on Tuesday, didn’t eventuate.
The composition of his coaching staff had to be finalised following Larkham’s unavailability.
The Australian Rugby Union plans to announce both the coach and the Wallabies’ spring tour squad on the same day.
That seems certain to happen on Wednesday as the squad assembles in Sydney on Thursday and leaves Australia on Friday.
Western Force coach Michael Foley is considered a contender for the set-piece coaching role currently occupied by Andrew Blades, one of his front-row colleagues in Australia’s 1999 World Cup-winning team.
Larkham’s unavailability has forced Cheika and the ARU to look elsewhere for an attack coach.
He could opt to stick with incumbent Jim McKay, who Cheika played club rugby alongside at Randwick.
Another possible option could be New Zealander and former All Blacks back Daryl Gibson, Cheika’s attack coach at the Waratahs.
Larkham, the five-eighth in Australia’s 1999 World Cup-winning side, has garnered plenty of kudos for his coaching work with the Brumbies, following on from his distinguished 102-cap Test career.
With former Brumbies head coach Laurie Fisher alongside him as director of rugby in 2014, Larkham piloted the ACT franchise to fourth on the ladder and the semi-finals.
With Fisher leaving to become head coach of top flight English club Gloucester at the end of the campaign, Larkham wants to concentrate on his first season in sole charge of the team.
“While I was honoured to be considered, I felt like taking five weeks out of my first solo preparation for a Super Rugby season wouldn’t be fair on the Brumbies, the local community or my family,” Larkham said.
“I am passionate about the success of Australian rugby, but at this point in time I think I can best serve the Wallabies by remaining focused on the Brumbies.”
Larkham has not ruled out future involvement in the Wallabies program.
While Cheika’s desire to also coach NSW in 2015 could be a sticking point for the ARU, former Wallaby captain Phil Kearns says it shouldn’t be an issue.
“He’ll have the time and he’s got the inclination, so let him do it,” Kearns told Fox Sports News.
Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said it was an asset that Cheika doesn’t get distracted by rugby politics, he said the passionate coach may need to watch his off-field behaviour.
Cheika was given a suspended six-month ban for abusing a cameraman in Durban in March, having a couple of weeks earlier broken a glass door in Canberra, though the Waratahs insisted the latter incident was an accident.
“He might have to adapt some of his off-field antics,” Deans said while promoting his autobiography in his native New Zealand.
“Cheik’s very much an ambush merchant. His flame burns hot so he’ll get a lift out of the group, he’ll get a response.”
