The Rugby Australia board will go into a high‑stakes meeting today armed with a detailed high performance review that includes mixed player feedback on the Test environment under Wallabies coach Michael Cheika.
The review, authored by high performance boss Ben Whitaker, has been circulated to the entire board ahead of their meeting, which started at Rugby Australia headquarters in Sydney.
It is understood to contain a detailed season review and a large section of player feedback, which was given anonymously at the end of the spring tour.
One insider described the player feedback as "mixed", including a strong endorsement of Michael Hooper's Test captaincy but some concerns about the team's communication, organisation and culture.
Board members went to ground on yesterday, but it appears there is a hardening sentiment that a change of some sort is required.
That is still unlikely to leave Cheika without a job. The Super Rugby title‑winning coach may have presided over the worst Wallabies win rate of the professional era but, with a full year left on his contract, uncertainty over who is available to replace him, and repeated public backing from chief executive Raelene Castle and chairman Cameron Clyne, it appears the board will push for change to his assistants and possibly his management team.
That means attack coach Stephen Larkham, defence coach Nathan Grey, forwards coach Simon Raiwalui or skills coach Mick Byrne, as well as team manager Pat Molihan, a former journalist and childhood friend of the coach, could be sacrificed.
[Source: Sydney Morning Herald]
