Any thought of Michael Cheika returning to coach the Wallabies appears to have been extinguished with a report from Argentina claiming he is poised to extend his time with Los Pumas.
Cheika is off contract after guiding Argentina to the semi-finals of this year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
The original plan was for the Australian to hand the coaching reins to his assistant, Felipe Contepomi.
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But sports website Olé reported that there had been a rethink with all parties keen to continue the status quo.
The report said it was a “matter of numbers” now regarding Cheika’s contract extension.
“We proposed to Cheika that he train until the end of the World Cup and organise the staff,” Argentina president Gabriel Travaglini said.
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“He complied with that and intends to stay, so now we are analysing it. We are making the best effort to have the best structure to face the next World Cup.”
Cheika had been flagged as a possible Wallabies replacement for Eddie Jones, along with Stephen Larkham, Dan McKellar, Joe Schmidt and Ian Foster.
He is also the coach of Lebanon’s national rugby league team and recently brushed off links to a high performance NRL role with the Tigers.
“When I was the coach in Australia, I was very loyal and that’s my go,” Cheika told SEN.
“I’m very loyal to what’s happening between me and Argentina – that’s my first port of call.
“I’ll go down there in a couple of weeks, and we’ll have a full debrief of what we did and then start making plans for the next World Cup.
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“And then also decide what I’m going to do moving forward.
“The original arrangement was that a young fella who I coached at length – Felipe Contepomi – he’s the guy who is going to take over at some stage.
“We’ll make a decision together on whether they think it’s good for me to stay on in that environment or does he want to go on his own.”