23 Apr 2012

Changes to Wallabies coaching staff

4:30 pm on 23 April 2012

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has unveiled a new-look coaching staff and says player management will be the main challenge facing Australia when they take on Scotland and Wales in a series of Test matches in June.

Deans announced that Tony McGahan will join him as coaching-coordinator, Andrew Blades as forwards coach and Nick Scrivener as coaching assistant.

They take the place of dumped assistants Jim Williams and Phil Blake, who have been moved on after last year's failed World Cup campaign.

Deans says Blades brings plenty of pride in the Wallaby jersey and his job will chiefly be working on Australia's set-piece play at scrums and line-outs.

Former Brumbies player Scrivener has had experience coaching in Scotland and Deans believes his knowledge on the northern hemisphere side could prove valuable.

Scrivener will take over day-to-day jobs associated with being Wallabies coach, freeing Deans up to focus more on the bigger picture.

Meanwhile, McGahan is currently finishing up his duties at top Irish province Munster and has previous experience coaching in Japan and Queensland.

In the newly created role, McGahan will have significant involvement in the overall coordination of the coaching and management team and will assist Deans.