Australian rugby writer, Georgina Robinson believes sacking under-fire Wallabies coach, Michael Cheika would be a "desperate" move.
Cheika has been the subject of scrutiny the past two weeks after back-to-back Bledisloe Cup defeats to the All Blacks, but was quick to shut down suggestions he's worried about his job.
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"If you're naive enough to think that I'm worried about my job, then you don't know me at all," he said after Australia's loss at Eden Park.
While speculation about Cheika's future as Wallabies coach continues to grow, Robinson expressed her concern of who were to takeover should he receive his marching papers.
Speaking to Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE, she believes there is no obvious replacement, but concedes Cheika is feeling the heat like never before.
"He knows that pressure come along with the job. It is the first time since he's been back in Australia that he's faced any pressure so this is probably uncharted territory for him," Robinson said.
"He faced pressure at Munster when things didn't work out and in Paris, so he came back here and since his arrival in 2013, has done everything right on terms of results and mobilising a latent rugby fan base and this is the first time where things haven't been working out.
"There is nobody ready outside the team to step up and take over. There is no coach with the records, and experience in Australia and the only bloke I think you could look at if things got really desperate would be Stephen Larkham.
"If you were going to do something rash and sack Michel Cheika 12 months from a World Cup, they you'd have to, just in the interests of harmony in the playing group and not destabilising them you'd go for the interim coach in Larkham, who is a much-loved member of the squad."
Robinson is also confident the Wallabies can match it with the All Blacks, despite being on the wrong end of two comprehensive losses.
"They are clearly not [gaining on the All Blacks] and that is a big problem. But in October last year, they beat the All Blacks. There is no reason why can't happen again," she said.
"We have the cattle, they might not be as skilful as New Zealand players, we're fighting a competitive market for the best Australian athletes and rugby league and AFL often win that battle because they are flushed with cash, but this isn't a group which can't be competitive at the next World Cup."
All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen has thrown his support behind Cheika and says he shouldn't be judged on his losses to New Zealand.
"It's a pretty special team down in that changing room. When the time comes in few years, we'll look back at a special group. I don't think you should put a coach under pressure just from losing to us."
Newshub.
