Connolly firming as Wallabies coach favourite

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has confirmed it has held talks with former Queensland coach John Connolly about the vacant Wallabies head coaching job.{br}{br}View the Entire Article{br}

Oh really? :duh:

Seeings we haven't heard another name mentioned for the last two weeks I don't know if this needed an Australia Day national media release, might as well get the waiting over and done with and make the announcement :yawn:

All very cloak and dagger!!!
Get on with it!!! :director:

By Peter Jenkins, via Fox Sports
January 26, 2006

AUSTRALIAN Rugby Union officials have held a secret Sydney meeting with John Connolly and look ready to announce his rise to the Wallabies coaching position.

The Daily Telegraph has learned Connolly flew from Brisbane on Tuesday for top-level discussions following an extensive interview the previous week.

It is understood ARU chief executive Gary Flowers, back at work after a brief holiday, was present at the talks.

An ARU spokesman confirmed last night: "Yes, John Connolly was in town yesterday. That is all we can say."

Connolly was even more tightlipped, saying: "I have no comment to make."

ARU high performance unit boss Dr Peter Davis said last week Connolly's appointment was not a fait accompli and foreign contenders were still in the running.

It appears the situation has changed in recent days.

Connolly is set to succeed the sacked Eddie Jones - but there are no signs an announcement will be made before next week.

The reason for the delay, at this late stage, is most likely linked to the ARU's desire to grab maximum impact and approval by revealing not only Connolly's signing but the formation of a three-pronged coaching team.

Former Wallabies hooker Michael Foley and Wales backline consultant Scott Johnson are the assistant coaches being pursued.
Foley is still under contract with the Bath club in England and would need to organise an early release before confirming his return home to help at the national level.

Johnson, who has received a big-money offer from Leicester in the UK, may be waiting to see the other pair locked away before committing.

The ARU is refusing to reveal any details on contenders or interviews for the position while the process continues.

But Connolly's elevation, now seemingly awaiting only official confirmation, will rank among the most amazing comebacks in Australian sport.

He was the hot favourite to replace Bob Dwyer in 1996 when the game first went professional, only for NSW-Queensland politics to intervene.

NSW officials, with the numbers to decide the voting, went against Connolly to install Waratahs coach Greg Smith.

He was ousted before his second season was at an end, with Connolly and Rod Macqueen then emerging as the two frontline candidates.

Macqueen won out, took the Wallabies on and end of season tour in 1997 then guided the Test team to a Bledisloe Cup win in 1998, a World Cup triumph in 1999, a Tri-Nations title in 2000 and a series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2001.

The irony is that Macqueen, who handed on the reins to Eddie Jones in 2001, is back as the behind-the-scenes strongman in the search for the 2006 coach.

Macqueen was one of three men named on the coaching head-hunting panel, and it's no secret in rugby circles that Macqueen and Connolly were not close during their time as interstate coaching rivals.

Hatchets, it seems, have been buried.

The Daily Telegraph

All a bit of a storm in a tea cup Alan!
Perhaps McKenzie wasn't suitable, perhaps it's a good thing for Australian rugby that Whitaker is making room.
Perhaps you are worried you might not get reappointed under Connolly......

Gaffney sick of waiting

By Rupert Guinness
January 31, 2006

THE Australian Rugby Union's decision to appoint a new national coach is long overdue, says Alan Gaffney, the incumbent backs coach.

The ARU is expected to name within days the successor to Eddie Jones, who was axed last December.

But Gaffney believes that had his replacement been named earlier players' interests would have been better served.

The ARU's protracted selection process contrasts with that of the Australian Rugby League.

Within days of Wayne Bennett standing down as Australia rugby league coach after the Kangaroos tour late last year, the ARL named Ricky Stuart as coach.

Gaffney, who was interviewed a fortnight ago for the Wallabies job that is certain to go to John Connolly, said the sooner closure on the issue was made, the more chance Australian rugby had to move forward.

"They have to go ahead and get on and make the decision," the former Munster coach said.

"As soon as the decision is made, the better it will be. It's a decision everyone is sitting waiting for."

Gaffney even suggested that had the ARU's decision been made earlier - and in the favour of initial favourite Ewen McKenzie before the New South Wales Waratahs coach withdrew his interest - NSW captain and Wallabies halfback Chris Whitaker may have re-signed with NSW rather than opt to go overseas next season.

"Would Chris Whitaker have stayed if the appointment of Ewen McKenzie would have been made in November?" Gaffney asked.
"I don't know. But those are the sort of things, from a players' perspective, they would love to know sooner rather than later.

"I know they have a Super 14 to go through, but obviously it would be weighing on their minds."

Gaffney's call-up for an interview as head coach would indicate he is well regarded by the ARU.

The Daily Telegraph

All this is not really news is it. Why can't they just leave all alone until they can announce something conrete.

Mitchell questions Jones sacking
By Phil Henderson and Glenn Cullen
January 31, 2006

WESTERN Force coach John Mitchell has questioned the Australian Rugby Union decision to sack Eddie Jones without a ready-made replacement as Wallabies head coach.

Former Queensland coach John Connolly is expected to be installed as the new Wallabies coach by the end of next week, two months after the position was left vacant.

Given that lengthy spell, former All Blacks coach Mitchell today questioned the decision to get rid of Jones.

"Maybe we need to also think: Was it the right thing to drop Eddie Jones as head coach?" Mitchell said on Sydney's 2KY radio station.

"That also should be a consideration, because I guess they are finding it difficult finding the right man to head up the role.

"(Jones) is a very good coach and sometimes it's just about resourcing coaches in a better way and supporting some of the areas that need improvement."

The ARU formed a three-man selection panel within days of Jones's sacking to find Australia's new head coach, but chief executive Gary Flowers has maintained throughout the process that the union would not rush the appointment.

Flowers said today that an appointment was likely to be made in "seven to ten days", but he refused to canvass further particulars about the role or candidates at this stage.

Mitchell ruled out applying for the job soon after it became available but indicated he could consider the post in years to come.

And breaking news just to hand: will have some breaking news in 7 to 10 days...

wtf?