Former Wallaby winger David Campese has called for Reds coach Ewen McKenzie to replace Robbie Deans as Wallabies coach if the Reds win the title this week.
McKenzie has turned the Reds around from a team that regularly finished in last place to a team that finished in first place and Campese says McKenzie should be coach Australia after the world cup.
The Australian Rugby Union are understood to be re-contracting New Zealander Robbie Deans but the 101-Test winger says that it is time to put an Australian back in charge of the national team.
Deans looks set to sign with the ARU for another two years but Australia’s leading try scorer says Rugby bosses is Australia should should immediately end negotiations if the Reds 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.”
Deans currently has a winning percentage of 55.8 per cent but is renowned as one of the world’s best rugby coaches.
McKenzie had the chance to succeed Eddie Jones as Australian coach after taking the Waratahs to the first of two Super Rugby finals in 2005 but chose to stay with the Waratahs.
McKenzie has been in a Super Rugby final twice before and both times the team he has coached has lost to the Crusaders.