Is it time for change at the Wallabies?
- 1415
The Springboks piled more misery on Australia and their under-fire head coach Michael Cheika after they dispatched the Wallabies 23-12 in their clash at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The Wallabies have now won only one of their last five matches in the Rugby Championship and just twice in 2018.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus rued his side's missed opportunities and claimed that "If we’d taken them (the opportunities) we could have given them a hiding".
With the Rugby World Cup drawing closer and closer Rugby AU CEO Raelene Castle has backed Michael Cheika to take the Wallabies in the competition.
But with recent results not going the former Waratahs coaches way is it time to make a change? Surely it's now or never?
2 wins from past 10 Tests for Wallabies under Michael Cheika.
— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) September 29, 2018
Win against Argentina next week or changes must be made.
If Cheika is to stay on until the World Cup, changes in his support staff need to made as the Wallabies need a fresh approach to the games or just new faces to inspire the side.
Attacking guru Jim McKay would surely make a positive impact on the squad and has just joined the Reds set up ahead of the 2019 Super Rugby season. Bringing him in as well as former Gloucester coach, and Brumbies forwards' coach, Laurie Fisher could make the all the difference ahead of the World Cup.
Who could take over if Cheika got the axe?
Former Springbok and Brumbies coach Jake White has put his hand up for the role but was snubbed for the role when Robbie Deans left the post.
Inside the Wallabies camp, Stephen Larkham was reasonably successful as the Brumbies head coach and could take over the reins.
Darryl Gibson took the Waratahs to the Super Rugby semi-final earlier this year after a tough start in charge of the union.
Brad Thorn proved himself in the NRC but hasn't really made a similar impact with the Reds yet.
Besides, White, no other coach has coached a test side making it difficult for Australia to axe Cheika ahead of the World Cup but a shake-up in his support staff could be just as effective.
