The Ewen McKenzie reign is underway with the new-era Wallabies assembling in Sydney and vowing to get straight down to the business of regaining the Bledisloe Cup.
Most of McKenzie’s 40-man training squad entered camp on Monday, with a handful of NSW players due to arrive on Tuesday morning following the Waratahs’ weekend clash with Argentina in Buenos Aires.
The Wallabies take on the world champion All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship opener at ANZ Stadium on Saturday week and skipper James Horwill said it was an exciting time for Australian rugby.
“The guys coming in here are very excited about the opportunity that’s ahead of us,” Horwill said.
“It’s a fresh start under a new regime and it’s our turn to sink our teeth into it and get on with business.
“We don’t have a lot of time to prepare for that first Test so we’ve got to get down to work pretty much immediately.
“Speaking to a number of players, they can’t wait to get into camp and get stuck into it.”
Captain of the Queensland Reds team which McKenzie guided to Super Rugby glory in 2011, Horwill said he was looking forward to the coach transferring his smarts to the Test arena.
“He’s made it pretty clear that this is what he’s wanted to do and I’m thrilled to see what he’s able to do with the national side,” he said.
“Everything’s a little bit different in a Test team compared to a Super Rugby franchise, so I’m pretty keen to see the differences that he’ll bring to the team.”
McKenzie will trim his squad back to 30 players on Friday and on Monday he finalised his coaching team through to the 2015 Rugby World Cup with the addition of Queensland’s attack coach Jim McKay.
McKay, who has worked with McKenzie at the Reds for the past four seasons, will keep the same role for the Wallabies as part of a four-man coaching team.
The former Randwick winger will be one of three assistant coaches, with Nick Scrivener retaining his job as defence mentor and Andrew Blades staying in control of set-piece coaching.
Deposed head coach Robbie Deans had the responsibilities for Australia’s backline throughout his five-and-a-half-season stint, while coaching coordinator Tony McGahan left his national team post last month to take charge of the Melbourne Rebels.
McKay’s two-year appointment is another good sign for controversial five-eighth Quade Cooper, who has played his best rugby under McKenzie and McKay at the Reds.
Out of favour under Deans, Cooper is likely to reclaim the Wallabies No.10 jersey against the All Blacks with McKenzie and McKay set to release the shackles and encourage the Wallabies to return to their running rugby ways.
“We’ve got a very good mix of the technical principles and also the attitudinal bit that you need and certainly some of the innovation that is synonymous with Wallaby rugby,” McKenzie said.