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SYDNEY - Wallabies attack coach Scott Johnson today officially withdrew from the race to succeed John Connolly as Australia's next head coach.
Johnson was one of six candidates scheduled to be interviewed, but today confirmed he was withdrawing from the interview process.
"It's a personal decision and we respect that," Australian Rugby Union (ARU) high performance unit manager Pat Howard said.
"The process will continue with the (other) five and a recommendation will be made out of that," Howard added.
NSW Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie was the first man to be interviewed by the five-man selection panel today.
Wallabies defence coach John Muggleton was to also have an interview today.
The other candidates to be interviewed later are Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher, former Wallabies coach and media personality Alan Jones and early favourite, Blues and former Brumbies Super title-winner David Nucifora.
The selection panel consists of Howard, ARU board members and former Wallaby locks Rod McCall and Mark Connors, former Wallabies captain Michael Hawker and former Brumbies captain and ARU high performance unit general manager Brett Robinson.
The selection panel will make a recommendation to the full ARU board which will sit next Friday.
- AAP
