Cheika agrees to coach Wallabies

Tuesday, 21 October 2014 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SYDNEY (AFP): Super Rugby-winning coach Michael Cheika has agreed to take charge of the Wallabies after the shock resignation of Ewen McKenzie and is negotiating the details, a report said on Monday.

McKenzie dropped his bombshell shortly after New Zealand narrowly beat Australia 29-28 in the final Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane on Saturday, throwing their upcoming European tour into chaos. The Australian newspaper, citing an “informed source”, said online that Cheika met Australian Rugby Union chief Bill Pulver on Sunday and again Monday and “had agreed to take the Wallabies job”. The ARU had no immediate comment but in a series of tweets on their official Twitter feed the Wallabies said discussions were ongoing. “The #ARU is still in the process of investigating options to replace Ewen McKenzie, following his resignation last Saturday,” it said. “At this stage, no prospective coaches have been confirmed in the role. We hope to have a solution in place and announced before the team leaves for the Spring Tour on Friday.” Pulver said on Sunday he had a list of options in mind but had yet to speak to any of the potential candidates despite urgency surrounding a decision, with the squad due to leave for Europe this week.As well as Cheika, whose track record includes winning the Heineken Cup with Irish side Leinster and the NSW Waratahs’ maiden Super title earlier this year, Springbok World Cup-winning mentor Jake White has also been linked to the job.