Michael Cheika confirmed as new Wallabies coach

The worst kept secret in rugby union has been confirmed: Michael Cheika is the new coach of the Wallabies.

Cheika admitted earlier in the week that he had been in discussions with the ARU to replace Ewen McKenzie, who resigned after Australia’s defeat to New Zealand on Saturday night. McKenzie left the Wallabies under a cloud, having lost the support of senior players and being forced to deny allegations of an affair with the team’s former business manager, Di Patston.

Cheika, however, denied that he now leads a team in disarray. “I don’t think it’s a rescue job whatsoever,” he said. “Everyone needs to clear their heads and remember what we are here to do. I am going to have to work hard and learn quickly but I am up for the challenge.”

Cheika’s currency has never been higher, having led the Waratahs – who he will continue to coach in the 2015 season – to the Super Rugby title earlier this year with an attacking brand of rugby. He will have little time to prepare for his first match in charge: the Wallabies fly to Europe for the start of their five-match tour on Friday. They then play the Barbarians on 1 November, followed by Tests in Cardiff, Paris and Dublin before meeting England on 29 November.

Australia also have a tough pool in next year’s World Cup, where they are drawn alongside Wales and England. They did, however, show their potential at the weekend, leading the world champions, New Zealand, until the final seconds.

The former Wallabies coach, Eddie Jones, criticised the delay in naming Cheika as coach.

“It’s very un-Australian isn’t it?” Jones told Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday, before Cheika’s position was confirmed. “Australia has always been a smart country. At this stage, that’s where we’ve fallen behind in terms of organisation and planning, and just looking ahead.” Jones was also blunt about the challenges facing Cheika: “He’s going to have one of the hardest jobs in the world.”

Cheika defended the ARU over the speed of his appointment, putting the blame on his own shoulders. “It’s probably my fault more than anyone’s because I wanted to make sure there was a lot of clarity,” he said.

Some have questioned Cheika’s ability with the ARU, with whom he has clashed during his time as Waratahs coach. “There’s been a few reports about my relationship with people at the ARU ... and I think that’s borne more out of me wanting to do the best for the Waratahs in my negotiations with the ARU,” said Cheika. “I won’t make any excuses for fighting for my team [the Waratahs].”

Cheika has signed a three-year contract with the Wallabies and will be assisted on the European tour by his Waratahs defence coach Nathan Grey and incumbent forwards coach Andrew Blades.

The Wallabies also named a squad that includes five uncapped players for the European tour on Wednesday, including the Melbourne Rebels loose forward Sean McMahon and the Western Force prop Tetera Faulkner.

One notable absence from the squad is Kurtley Beale, who faces a hearing on Friday over alleged offensive texts sent to Patston. Cheika coaches Beale at the Waratahs but he would not be drawn into a discussion on the player’s future. “I won’t be answering any questions on that today because there’s no way that I want to prejudice what’s going to happen with Kurtley on Friday,” Cheika said.

The ARU chief executive, Bill Pulver, denied Beale’s absence from the squad is because the player will be found guilty at the hearing.

“Let me comment on the timing issue,” Pulver said. “We had originally scheduled the tribunal to be held on 13 October. Kurtley’s legal team came back and quite justifiably said that they needed more time. It’s clearly longer than I think everybody would’ve liked, but it was really in response to request from his legal team.”

Australia squad to tour Europe

Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Alexander, Sam Carter, Quade Cooper, Tom English, Saia Fainga’a, Tetera Faulkner, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Kyle Godwin, James Hanson, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Michael Hooper (capt), Rob Horne, James Horwill, Luke Jones, Sekope Kepu, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Josh Mann-Rea, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Nick Phipps, Benn Robinson, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Henry Speight, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White.