Wallabies rugby coach Michael Cheika needs to go - that's the opinion of respected Australian journalist Greg Growden.
And he’s identified Kiwi Joe Schmidt or Brisbane Broncos league guru Wayne Bennett as preferred replacements for the current regime.
In a column for ESPN, Growden has passionately rubbished Cheika's coaching ability, claiming Australia's 2019 Rugby World Cup hopes are already in tatters, more than a year out from the start of the tournament.
The 51-year-old's record hovers at just over 50 percent, which includes home losses to Scotland, Ireland, England and a two-win, eight-loss record against the All Blacks.
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Cheika took over from the dumped Ewen McKenzie in 2014 and started encouragingly, beating New Zealand at his first try and taking the Wallabies to the World Cup final.
But results have dipped and despite a feeling his side was finally heading in the right direction, the 38-13 hammering against the All Blacks last Saturday night has left Growden calling for Cheika's head.
"If Rugby Australia is serious about a productive 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign, as well as regaining the faith of thousands of disenchanted Wallabies supporters, they must get rid of Cheika, and all of his backup coaching and managerial staff now," wrote Growden.
"Not at the end of the year or after the World Cup. Right now."
Growden identified Ireland coach Schmidt as the perfect candidate, imploring Rugby Australia to throw an open cheque in his direction.
Growden even mentioned rugby league great Bennett as an option, noting he could do no worse than the current regime.
"Drastic action is required, because Cheika's Wallabies are going absolutely nowhere, sending Australian rugby into a frightening nose-dive," he wrote.
"Cheika must pay the price for a team whose appalling skill level makes a mockery of the ‘professional footballer’ tag, and his arrogant, holier-than-thou attitude does not warrant any respect from those sick and tired of a pedestrian outfit, who constantly make fools of themselves in the big games."
Growden, who sat near the Wallabies coaches' box on Saturday night, felt a shift among supporters, as the game slipped away from the green-and-golds.
Several fans gave the 'thumbs down' sign to Cheika, while others banged furiously on the window as they left the ground.
Growden said their disgust at the current state of Australian rugby was warranted.
"The Wallabies yet again failed to provide value for money - and when you lose the fans, it's all over, red rover. The coaching staff deserved to witness such anger, because they are at the core of the problem.
"Surely Cheika cannot survive."
Growden has covered rugby for the Sydney Morning Herald and Fairfax Media for 30 years, and written several books on the game, including Inside the Wallabies and Rugby for Dummies.
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