Reports: Michael Cheika survives Wallabies axe

Michael Cheika will reportedly keep his job as Wallabies coach despite Australian rugby’s worst international season in 60 years but according to reports he is set to have his powers seriously curtailed.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Cheika will be saved from the axe once Rugby Australia has completed its full review into the Wallabies’ year in which they recorded nine losses from 13 Tests in 2018.

However, Rugby Australia is set to hire Scottish director of rugby and former Wallabies assistant Scott Johnson in a role above Cheika in time for next year’s Rugby World Cup.

The report states that an announcement will be made next week. Johnson worked as the Wallabies attack coach under John Connolly during the 2007 World Cup and is among several options who have been linked as a possible replacement for Cheika.

However, while keen to return home to Australia Johnson has supposedly indicated to RA that he holds no desire to become head coach of the Wallabies and would be more interested in an overseeing role, one similar to that of Rassie Erasmus after next year's showpiece.

RA met with the 56-year-old Johnson during the Wallabies’ spring tour of Europe, and his hiring could solve the organisation’s dilemma of how to arrest the disappointing results under Cheika without having to pay him out before his contract expires after the RWC in Japan.

Cheika fronted the RA board on Monday and chairman Cameron Clyne said a decision on his future would be made before Christmas in a 51 second press conference that drew widespread criticism for its brevity and for Clyne failing to take any questions.

“We obviously received a presentation from Michael Cheika and we’re going through a process, so I’m not really in a position to elaborate,” Clyne said.

Cheika has not made any public comments since he returned home and failed to attend Tuesday’s annual players association awards ceremony in Sydney.