This is a disastrous development for Australian Rugby. i have no view about Graham as a coach - i dont watch enough force games to have formed one and, in any event, the place has been dysfunctional since before he got there.
But it seems like a pointless move to me to take the best credentialed hands on coach in Australia and put him in a less hands on role in favour of someone in whom most of you posters have little faith. Its akin to weakening 2 positions by moving your best player from one position to another that he doesn't play as well and bringing in the reserve.
It also seems unlikely to me that the ARU are behind the scenes orchestrating a Link takeover of the Wallabies: this would be utterly disloyal to the players and fans in Perth and could not be justified on any basis.
Starting to make the A league look good.....
++ what a shocking, almost recklessly irresponsible time to announce such changes. Reds just recovering morale and mojo and huge game on Friday, Force struggling and having to see someone who was allegedly meant to be super-comitted to them for 4 years, just walk away after 1.5 yrs to a fierce competitor.
+ tremble to think what this could mean for 2013 onwards player retention at the Reds...
+ why on earth could the QRU not go for someone with an outstanding track record at S15 or intn level...whatever the most generous excuses for RG's outcomes as coach, he has no demonstrable track record of proper success anywhere