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These are your latest rugby headlines on Thursday, July 30.
Cheika lined up for return
Former Australia and Argentina head coach Michael Cheika is in line to make a sensational return to rugby union with the NSW Waratahs, according to reports.
Before becoming Wallabies coach in 2015, Cheika spent three years at the helm of the Tahs and guided them to the 2014 Super Rugby title. Now, he is being tipped for a homecoming after head coach Dan McKellar stepped down due to personal reasons last month.
Cheika – who previously became an early favourite to replace Warren Gatland as Wales head coach before the role was later given to Steve Tandy – spent last season in rugby league as assistant coach of NRL side Sydney Roosters.
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However, there are growing calls for him to return to union with the Waratahs, who have reportedly had several targets turn them down. Former All Blacks boss Scott Robertson and Scott Wisemantel are among those believed to have said no, while Joe Schmidt was also targeted before he took up a consultancy role with Ulster.
ABC News reports that expressions of interest for the vacancy closed last week, and it is understood that Cheika has not yet applied for the role. However, he continues to be linked and Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has not ruled out a possible homecoming for the 59-year-old.
Refusing to say if he had spoken to Cheika about the job, Waugh said: “We want world-class coaches, right across the system. That’s our focus; there’s multiple applicants, and we’re working through it.
“We want to provide certainty to players and supporters as quickly as we can. Idon’t like to anchor myself to timelines when it comes to coaching announcements, but we’re conscious of getting the right person and the importance of a successful Waratahs in a World Cup year.”
Erasmus refuses to show hand
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has refused to reveal how his side plan to approach their upcoming Test series against New Zealand.
The four-Test series – promoted as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) – begins next month, with the first Test taking place in Johannesburg on August 22. The two superpowers of world rugby will then meet twice more on South African soil, facing each other in Cape Town and again in Johannesburg before the final Test at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
While in South Africa, the All Blacks will also face club sides Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions, while the Springboks are set to play against Argentina and Australia either side of the RGR series.
Addressing the media this week, Erasmus unsurprisingly faced several questions about the All Blacks, but kept his cards close to his chest as he refused to reveal whether his side would adopt a kicking or running approach against Dave Rennie’s men.
Instead, he insisted that his tactical approach will depend on team selection – which will be made following his side’s clash with the Pumas on August 8 – as well as how the All Blacks perform against the franchise sides.
“If we play Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu], Handré [Pollard] or Manie [Libbok] at flyhalf, we have to decide whether we play a kicking game or a running game,” said Erasmus as he insisted his full focus was currently on Argentina.
“It depends on what team we pick and how the All Blacks go in the franchise matches. We haven’t done a lot of analysing when it comes to the All Blacks, that is why the squad for the Greatest Rivalry series will only be announced after the Argentina match.”
Schmidt’s return to Ireland confirmed
Ulster Rugby have confirmed that former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt will take up a year-long consultancy role with the province.
Schmidt, who stepped down from his role as head coach of the Wallabies following the conclusion of the recent Nations Championship southern series, enjoyed a hugely successful spell in Irish rugby, winning two Champions Cups with Leinster before guiding the national team to three Six Nations titles.
Now, he is back in Ireland to help develop Ulster’s coaches and “strengthen a clear and connected coaching pathway” at the province.
“Ulster Rugby is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Schmidt in a consultancy capacity as Coach Development Advisor, a newly created role focused on strengthening and developing the coaching pathway across the province,” the province said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Schmidt will support the ongoing development of coaches across the province, helping to strengthen a clear and connected coaching pathway spanning the academy, age-grade programmes, schools and clubs, as well as the professional game.”
“Through several visits to the province over the next 12 months as well as remote interactions, Schmidt will work closely with coaching staff at all levels, providing mentorship, guidance and strategic support to strengthen coaching capability throughout the Ulster Rugby pathway and help drive long-term growth across the game.”
As his appointment was confirmed, Schmidt added: “Ulster has a proud rugby tradition and further developing the coaching pathway in the region is something that we believe can add value.
“We’ve had initial discussions about where to get started, and I’ve already had the opportunity to work with some of the school coaches, alongside Dan Soper.”
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