Jake rates McKenzie Test coach in waiting

[The InnFORCEr]

Jim Morton and David Barbeler,
AAP
April 15, 2013,
3:35 pm

There's two heavyweight contenders if the Australian Rugby Union replace Wallabies coach Robbie Deans this year, but Jake White says Ewen McKenzie should be a "shoo-in" for the job.

Former World Cup-winning South African mentor White on Monday bowed to McKenzie's record with the Queensland Reds as both have increased the pressure on Deans' Test position.

The pair match wits in an intriguing sub-plot to Super Rugby's most pivotal Australian derby of 2013 on Saturday night when the Brumbies and Reds meet at Suncorp Stadium.

White's success in turning around the Brumbies in the past 18 months virtually mirrors McKenzie's influence at Ballymore where he led an amazing Queensland revival after taking the reins in late 2009.

The Reds went one win from making the 2010 semi-finals before winning the 2011 championship and pipping the Brumbies for last year's Australian conference title.

After 24 games in charge, White's record with the Brumbies is 16 wins, seven losses and a draw.

In his first 24 games at the Reds, McKenzie's record was 17-7. It now sits at 40-15.

White said Queensland's 2011 title and last year's conference win made him the next in line for the Wallabies post with Deans coming off contract.

"If you look at it like that, you'd like to think that Ewen must then be the shoo-in for that job because that's the way it is," he said in Canberra.

"They are laden with Wallabies, they have got a winning culture - he has done phenomenally well with that Reds team.

"The Reds, when he took over, were nowhere. He's (taken) them to where they are now and that plays a massive bonus for them. You've got to give him accolades for that."

While there's strong respect between both, White and McKenzie haven't minded niggling each other and their tactics, in the past two seasons.

McKenzie and the Reds currently hold a 2-1 advantage but the Brumbies savoured a 24-6 victory in their last clash in this year's season-opener.

With Wallabies leaders James Horwill and Will Genia now back for Queensland, White has declared the home side "king favourites".

But McKenzie acknowledged the Brumbies remain a complicated team to plan against.

"We're better than we were when we played them in the first round, there's no question about that," he said.

"No one wants to talk about it but they kick the ball a lot.

"They kick it down the other end and they want you to play.

"It's a solid game plan and it works but they don't play any rugby inside their own half."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ch-in-waiting/

[chibi]

There's no reason why both couldn't work together. If McKenzie gets the job, it would be insane not to have White as an assistant. As a matter of fact, I'd probably rather have White in there as the coach anyway. If we're gonna allow foreigners to coach the Wallabies, it would be good to have one who actually WANTS to beat New Zealand, and as a bonus, has a grudge against South Africa too.