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193273
Wed, 07/06/2011 - 14:05
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http://m.oananews.org//node/193273
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Campo wants McKenzie to be Wallabies coach
SYDNEY (AAP) - July 06 - Test great David Campese has called for Ewen McKenzie to replace Robbie Deans as Wallabies coach if Queensland cap their remarkable resurgence with a Super Rugby title.
McKenzie has taken the long-time cellar-dwelling Reds from second last to a home final in two seasons at Ballymore and Campese adamantly believes he deserves to lead Australia after this year's World Cup.
The Australian Rugby Union is in the process of recontracting New Zealander Deans beyond the tournament but the 101-Test winger told AAP it is time to put an Australian back in charge.
Campese made the call on Wednesday as McKenzie was preparing to name his first unchanged 22-man squad of the year to play the Crusaders in Saturday night's decider at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium.
The Reds have only once retained the same starting 15 this season, which coincidentally resulted in their thrilling 17-16 win over the Crusaders on May 29, in a good omen for the final.
Campese said McKenzie is the best man for the national job he turned down in late 2005, when he opted to stay on with the NSW Waratahs.
Deans appears set to be re-signed for two more years despite a modest winning record of 55.8 per cent, and Australia's record try-scorer believes the ARU should immediately end negotiations if Queensland upset the seven-time champions.
"If they win, Ewen McKenzie should become the Wallabies coach," he told AAP. "I know they want Robbie Deans signed but we don't need him.
"I would rather Australia have an Australian coach than sign Robbie Deans again.
"(McKenzie) has taken the Reds from almost last to first so he's definitely got the players playing well and he deserves to be the national coach."
McKenzie lost out when Deans became the first foreigner appointed to the role, replacing John Connolly after the Wallabies were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup.
The former 51-Test prop, who boasts a 70 per cent record with the Reds, had the chance to succeed Eddie Jones as Australian coach after taking the Waratahs to the first of two Super Rugby finals in 2005.
McKenzie lost both deciders against the Crusaders in Christchurch, with the last in 2008 coming after the NSW Rugby Union cut him free at the end of his five-year term.
But he's had far better fortunes toppling the seven-time champions, in charge of the Reds, winning both contests in the past two seasons, including a record 41-20 triumph last year, as well as two other pre-season trials.
McKenzie is almost certain to unveil an unchanged 22 on Thursday after winger Luke Morahan failed in his attempts to return from a torn hamstring.
It's likely to see former Melbourne Storm three-quarter Will Chambers retained on the bench to be in line to join Crusaders' lock Brad Thorn as the second player to earn the NRL-Super Rugby title double.
Dual international Thorn won three NRL premierships for the Brisbane Broncos (1998, 2000, 2006) before being a part of the Crusaders' 2008 final victory over NSW.
Saturday night's final is set to break Australia's 104-year-old provincial attendance record after the remaining 25,000 general sale seats were snapped up on Wednesday morning within 45 minutes.
A capacity Suncorp Stadium crowd of 52,000 will eclipse the mark of 49,327 set in 1907 when NSW played the All Blacks at the SCG.
McKenzie has taken the long-time cellar-dwelling Reds from second last to a home final in two seasons at Ballymore and Campese adamantly believes he deserves to lead Australia after this year's World Cup.
The Australian Rugby Union is in the process of recontracting New Zealander Deans beyond the tournament but the 101-Test winger told AAP it is time to put an Australian back in charge.
Campese made the call on Wednesday as McKenzie was preparing to name his first unchanged 22-man squad of the year to play the Crusaders in Saturday night's decider at a sold-out Suncorp Stadium.
The Reds have only once retained the same starting 15 this season, which coincidentally resulted in their thrilling 17-16 win over the Crusaders on May 29, in a good omen for the final.
Campese said McKenzie is the best man for the national job he turned down in late 2005, when he opted to stay on with the NSW Waratahs.
Deans appears set to be re-signed for two more years despite a modest winning record of 55.8 per cent, and Australia's record try-scorer believes the ARU should immediately end negotiations if Queensland upset the seven-time champions.
"If they win, Ewen McKenzie should become the Wallabies coach," he told AAP. "I know they want Robbie Deans signed but we don't need him.
"I would rather Australia have an Australian coach than sign Robbie Deans again.
"(McKenzie) has taken the Reds from almost last to first so he's definitely got the players playing well and he deserves to be the national coach."
McKenzie lost out when Deans became the first foreigner appointed to the role, replacing John Connolly after the Wallabies were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup.
The former 51-Test prop, who boasts a 70 per cent record with the Reds, had the chance to succeed Eddie Jones as Australian coach after taking the Waratahs to the first of two Super Rugby finals in 2005.
McKenzie lost both deciders against the Crusaders in Christchurch, with the last in 2008 coming after the NSW Rugby Union cut him free at the end of his five-year term.
But he's had far better fortunes toppling the seven-time champions, in charge of the Reds, winning both contests in the past two seasons, including a record 41-20 triumph last year, as well as two other pre-season trials.
McKenzie is almost certain to unveil an unchanged 22 on Thursday after winger Luke Morahan failed in his attempts to return from a torn hamstring.
It's likely to see former Melbourne Storm three-quarter Will Chambers retained on the bench to be in line to join Crusaders' lock Brad Thorn as the second player to earn the NRL-Super Rugby title double.
Dual international Thorn won three NRL premierships for the Brisbane Broncos (1998, 2000, 2006) before being a part of the Crusaders' 2008 final victory over NSW.
Saturday night's final is set to break Australia's 104-year-old provincial attendance record after the remaining 25,000 general sale seats were snapped up on Wednesday morning within 45 minutes.
A capacity Suncorp Stadium crowd of 52,000 will eclipse the mark of 49,327 set in 1907 when NSW played the All Blacks at the SCG.
