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NSW Rugby is poised to implode. Board members are in dispute over the decision not to renew Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie's contract and senior players have condemned the conduct of leading state officials.
The Herald was told last night several NSWRU board members were upset they had not been formally advised the Waratahs were announcing the termination of McKenzie's contract.
It is understood some NSWRU directors became aware McKenzie's contract would not be renewed at the end of the Super 14 season only when they read newspaper reports on Tuesday, which detailed how the Waratahs would that afternoon formally announce the decision that the head coach's five-year reign was about to end.
Many NSW officials are upset at how the McKenzie issue has been handled, and the fallout could be immense, affecting the future of several Waratahs administrators, board members, coaching staff and even players.
Several high-profile Waratahs players and members of the coaching staff are seriously considering their futures, while next Monday's NSWRU board meeting is bound to be volatile, as it will bring together the directors who were involved in the McKenzie decision and those who believe they were "kept in the dark".
The feeling among the Waratahs players has also been highly emotional. Recent comments from Waratahs officials questioning the team's style, have clearly upset leading players.
The Herald has seen an email sent from a senior Waratahs player to NSWRU officials, calling on them to stop airing their dirty linen in the media.
The email was sent on March 26 - the same day the Herald reported that McKenzie's future would hinge on how the team performed over the next three Super 14 matches.
The Herald report quoted NSWRU chairman Arvid Petersen as saying: "I don't think we [the Waratahs] are going well enough yet. I think we're still waiting to see the emergence of a more entertaining and attacking style of rugby. We haven't quite seen that yet."
While he thought the Waratahs were still in the finals hunt, Petersen said: "The performance of the last year-and-a-half hasn't been as good as it should be.
"We're the strongest union in this country, and our fans expect us to do better."
The player's email explained that such reports created tension, uncertainty and were clearly affecting the team.
He asked that any future issue about the players and coaches, be dealt with "out of the public eye". He thought the organisation needed to be "tighter", and "solve any issues in-house rather than through the press."
There is also uncertainty whether Waratahs assistant coach Todd Louden will take over from McKenzie.
After Louden had been the outright favourite for so long, the Herald was told last night there was sudden conjecture about whether he was the right man for one of the most difficult jobs in Australian rugby.
Some powerbrokers are believed to be opposed to his appointment, while Louden's intentions are also unclear, with reports that he may also be a strong candidate to take over from Laurie Fisher as the ACT Brumbies' head coach.
And some associated with NSW Rugby are again pushing the claims of the Auckland Blues coach David Nucifora, who arrived in Sydney yesterday in preparation for Saturday night's match against the Waratahs at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Herald has been told the decision to let McKenzie go was made by the NSWRU "inner sanctum" last Friday night, following the Waratahs' victory over the Cheetahs - in which the home team started well, faded badly, but still got away with a four-point win.
McKenzie was told of the decision by NSWRU chief executive Jim L'Estrange on Monday, and shortly afterwards it was relayed to the players at a hastily convened meeting before training at the Sydney Football Stadium.
After NSW team manager Chris Webb informed the players of the decision, McKenzie's speech was brief. He said: "That's rugby. Now here's the team …"
He read out the line-up for Saturday night, and then training began.
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