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McKenzie offers to stay at Tahs
By Wayne Smith
May 19, 2008
NEW South Wales coach Ewen McKenzie has not signed with Stade Francais and is prepared to discuss staying on with the Waratahs.
Despite the fact the New South Wales Rugby Union are having all kinds of problems replacing him and are rumoured to have serious reservations about appointing current favourite, Chris Hickey, the organisation has no plans to even sound out the man who has just poured around $700,000 into their coffers by coaching the Waratahs to a Super 14 home semi-final.
Nothing could compound the NSWRU's madness in sacking a man who has taken the Waratahs to the play-offs three times in the past four years - during which time no other Australian team has made the semis - than to refuse to re-open negotiations purely to save face.
McKenzie has initiated none of this, but when approached on Sunday, he responded honestly.
"I know everyone thinks I'm heading to Paris but I'm keeping my options open," McKenzie said. "One of the (negative) things about Europe is the impact it would have on my family. My children are aged 10, 12 and 14. Rushing off to Europe, while it's got lots of appeal, creates problems that I'm not entirely comfortable with.
That's why I haven't made a decision. "Having said that, I've still got bills to pay."
Would McKenzie be prepared to stay on? "That's an interesting question," he replied. "Obviously there has been a fair bit of water go under the bridge. It's been a difficult time for a lot of reasons.
"There have already been significant changes made so it wouldn't be a case of continuing what I've done but rather of starting again - and that's a different exercise. But I know I can do that. I've done it already in the past.
"So, in the spirit of never saying never, yes, I'd be prepared to sit down with them and have a discussion."
That should be the cue for NSWRU officials to swallow their pride, acknowledge that they pulled the trigger prematurely and start afresh with McKenzie. Instead, NSWRU chief executive Jim L'Estrange is quietly but firmly closing the door.
"I don't think so," L'Estrange said, when asked about the possibility of NSW backtracking on their resolution to part company with McKenzie.
"We made a conscious but hard decision and we'll keep moving. I hope Ewen does sign (with Stade Francais) and I hope he gets a great contract with them. He deserve it."
What McKenzie deserves is for his achievements to be looked at objectively by NSWRU directors smart enough to realise that their modest careers in club rugby give them precious little insight into the demands and strains of professional rugby.
Increasingly it is becoming obvious that one or two directors are still living in the past, believing they warrant a direct say in the day-to-day running of the Waratahs.
They don't. Their say extends no further than appointing the coach. Sure, they can sack him if he doesn't perform but until that day arrives, they should take their seats in the directors' box, cheer like crazy and simply let the coach do what a coach does.
Has it occurred to NSW directors to ask themselves why it is they are having so much difficulty replacing McKenzie? It should be a cinch, finding a highly qualified coach ready to take on the challenge. After all, the Waratahs' coaching position is probably second only in prestige behind the Australia job.
NSW have playing numbers the envy of every other state, they have first pick of the emerging talent and are operating in the biggest commercial market in the country.
Whoever coaches the Waratahs has resources at his disposal that few other provincial or club sides in world rugby can match.
Certainly if McKenzie were to go to Stade Francais, he would quickly discover that for himself. So why the difficulty finding a NSW coach?
The reason is every potential candidate knows that if he takes on the job, he will take on the political infighting and interference that comes from above.
L'Estrange had hoped to put a name to the NSWRU board by the end of April. Now that deadline has been put back to the end of May, ostensibly because the NSWRU did not want to distract the Waratahs at the business end of the season.
Do NSW officials believe their bizarre handling of the coaching issue has not already seriously affected the Waratahs, both in terms of making it highly unlikely that Rocky Elsom and Dan Vickerman can be retained and also in terms of how it has undermined the Tahs' 2009 recruitment drive?
The lack of foresight in the NSWRU is staggering. Just a year ago, there was a move to sack defence coach Les Kiss. It is understood it was only McKenzie's support of his assistant that saved him. Now, after the Waratahs' superb defensive display this season, Kiss is on the short list to replace his boss.
Attack coach Todd Louden - another frontrunner for the Tahs head coaching job at one stage - has decided he can't take any more and is moving to Japan, while high performance unit manager Tony D'Arcy has reached the same conclusion and is moving back to Queensland.
So NSW has all but dismantled the team that took the Waratahs from 13th last year to second in 2008. While it might be too late to undo that damage, it is not too late to retain the man who made the miracle happen.
The Australian
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau." 
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Originally Posted by slomo
CHEERLEADERS ROCK!!! 
Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
Im sure the French gig pays in Euros and truckloads of them. Imagine getting the lemon and sarse then being reoffered your job back again?
