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MELBOURNE - Australian rugby coach John Connolly has laughed off suggestions he could be sacked before the World Cup if the Wallabies struggle during the Tri-Nations series.
Australia, fresh from a 49-0 rout of Fiji in Perth last Saturday and a 2-0 series win over Wales, open the Tri-Nations when they play South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday (NZT).
However, the successful start to 2007 has failed to shake off the critics, who say the experienced halfback axis of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham is too predictable to take the Wallabies to a record third World Cup in France this year.
That, tallied with John O'Neill's return as head of the Australian Rugby Union, has the critics sharpening their knives for Connolly.
"People will throw those things up but it's not going to happen before the World Cup as much as they might like it to at times," Connolly told Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper today.
"That would just be crazy."
But O'Neill has previous form.
He sacked Australian soccer coach Frank Farina when he was head of Football Federation Australia and replaced him with Guus Hiddink just four months before the Socceroos' World Cup playoff qualifier against Uruguay in 2005.
The Socceroos went on to qualify for the finals in Germany, where they reached the second round and boosted the popularity of the sport in Australia.
"It's not even something I've thought of," Connolly said.
"But that is the life of the coach, I guess. I spoke to John O'Neill yesterday. We had a chat and we're going to catch up on Friday week in Sydney for coffee.
"He's totally committed to Australia. I wouldn't think that commitment is to anyone in particular, but he's totally committed to getting the team in the best possible shape for the World Cup."
Connolly yesterday named his 25-man squad to face the Springboks at Newlands.
They next play the All Blacks in Melbourne on June 30, two days after O'Neill officially starts his new role.
- REUTERS
