Rugby Australia do about-turn on phone call with Jake White over Wallabies job
Georgina Robinson
16:05, Nov 29 2018
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Jake White's scheduled phone call with Rugby Australia on Thursday has been called off.
GETTY IMAGES
Jake White's scheduled phone call with Rugby Australia on Thursday has been called off.
Rugby Australia (RA) have called off a scheduled phone call with former Brumbies coach Jake White which was originally planned to take place on Thursday.
RA chief executive Raelene Castle is understood to have cancelled the meeting, which was initiated at White's request, after it was leaked to the media.
It is understood White, who is also believed to have offered his services to Japan as Jamie Joseph's replacement after next year's World Cup, had approached Castle to offer his services to the under-fire Wallabies.
The 54-year-old, who is contracted to Japan club side Toyota Verblitz, lost out to Ewen McKenzie in the race to replace Robbie Deans when the New Zealander resigned after the 2013 series loss to the British and Irish Lions.
In a similar mould to incumbent Michael Cheika, White is seen as a coach who gets rapid results with underperforming sides. He guided South Africa to their 2007 World Cup win after assembling a coaching line up that included Eddie Jones as technical advisor.
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RA management and its board are scheduled to meet on December 10 to discuss Cheika's future as Wallabies coach after the test side slumped to four wins from 13 this season and Cheika's win rate slipped to 48.3 per cent.
The Sydney Morning Herald understands that RA has in mind current Scotland director of rugby Scott Johnson for a similar role with the Wallabies under an overhauled high performance model designed to make the test environment a more collaborative set-up.
Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle canned plans to speak to Jake White about a job as Wallabies coach.
CHRIS HYDE/GETTY IMAGES
Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle canned plans to speak to Jake White about a job as Wallabies coach.
It is not known whether that would be from 2020 onwards or could be brought forward should the board decide that Cheika's role is untenable.
Cheika's assistant coaches Stephen Larkham, Nathan Grey and Simon Raiwalui are understood to be under pressure.
Johnson, who has worked with Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend to turn the small test nation into Six Nations and World Cup contenders over the past few years, has been linked to a move back to Australia for some time.
Michael Cheika has had a dismal record in charge of the Wallabies, with a win rate of 48.3 per cent.
TIM IRELAND/AP
Michael Cheika has had a dismal record in charge of the Wallabies, with a win rate of 48.3 per cent.
The former New South Wales captain, who has spent the past 12 years overseas, was targeted by RA for a role with Queensland but appears to have been holding out for something bigger.
Sydney Morning Herald