He’s been in the job for less than 48 hours but Simon Raiwalui has already hit the ground running with the Waratahs, reassuring players, including Taniela Tupou, that the Super Rugby franchise is a “success in waiting” with the “bones” in place to make a comeback.
After being confirmed as the Waratahs’ new head of performance, which will see him oversee every level of rugby in the state, including the women’s game, Raiwalui says the Super Rugby cellar-dwellers are approaching their search for a new men’s head coach with a matter of “urgency”.
While there’s been a sense of anxiety hovering over the Waratahs following another disastrous season, fears began to dissipate when the news filtered out that Raiwalui was coming home.
Indeed, after overseeing Fiji’s remarkable 69-year winless drought against the Wallabies during last year’s World Cup, Raiwalui’s stocks have soared.
Former Wallabies assistant and Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui is the Waratahs’ new head of performance. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
It wasn’t just his role in overseeing Fiji’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals that had Waratahs powerbrokers excited, but his pedigree in growing programs and nurturing players and people.
A reluctant head coach last year, Raiwalui had to be convinced to transition from Fiji general manager to coach when Vern Cotter abruptly left the Island Nation mere months out from the World Cup.
But his skill and quality shone through over the previous three years, where he played a key role in ensuring the Drua’s transition to Super Rugby in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
Now, Raiwalui has an equally big task in trying to pick the Waratahs up off the canvas.
Concerned? Not really.
“I don’t use the word upset or past glories, I don’t use past glories as a trump card,” Raiwalui said.
“I genuinely wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t think that the Waratahs are a success-in-waiting.
“I do think they have the bones, they have the pillars, they have the people in place to have success.
“There’s obviously things that we need to work on. We need to get the best staff in place, whether it be playing, whether it be off-field.
“We need to get the best players through the juniors, women, men; getting all our ducks in a row, so that we’ve got success on the field.”
Simon Raiwalui says locking down the Waratahs’ new head coach is vital. (Photo by Luis Veniegra/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
First thing first is locking down the Waratahs’ next head coach after Darren Coleman was told in late May that his time had to an end after three seasons in charge.
Despite touching down in Australia from Europe, via Dubai, on Thursday, Raiwalui is already across the main candidates to take over.
It’s believed it’s Scott Wisemantel’s job to lose, with Dan McKellar another worthy candidate after stepping away from Leicester over the weekend.
In a remarkable turn of events, McKellar’s spot has been taken by Michael Cheika, the former Wallabies and Argentina coach who had Raiwalui as an assistant during the 2019 World Cup.
“I’ve already been in a meeting around coaching options and we’ve got some very good options in place,” Raiwalui said.
“We’re looking for a world-class team to take the team forward.”
Waratahs chief executive Paul Doorn said an appointment would be “not that long” away while Raiwalui added that there was “urgency” around shoring up the role.
“I’ve already been contacting certain players, staff, just giving them a level of comfort,” he said.
“I do get the sense of urgency at the moment.”
One of the reasons around the need for action is to ensure they get the strongest possible list ahead of the 2025 season, which will include hosting the British and Irish Lions.
“It’s going to be very important,” Raiwalui said.
“There’s a couple of players that we’ve already had conversations with. I won’t give you their names. But they’re very important.
“They’re very important to what I see as our success, the Waratahs’.
“There’s some certain players, there’s not as many as you probably think there would be.”
Ensuring the ‘Tongan Thor’ not only comes to Daceyville but wants to is essential for the Waratahs, with others like Rob Leota and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in their sights despite the Wallabies trio not exactly excited by the potential move.
Raiwalui worked with all three players previously, particularly Salakaia-Loto and Tupou, and the former Saracens captain and Manly Marlin forward said locking them down would be “very nice”.
“Taniela’s a great young man,” Raiwalui said. “He needs a home where someone can show him some love. If he’s available, we’ll chat to him.”
Taniela Tupou needs some love, according to Simon Raiwalui. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
As for Australian rugby, Raiwalui said it was vital that the code gets some stability to ensure they grow.
“What Australian rugby needs is that stability and that growth from schoolboys through the colts, through the grade, up through Super,” Raiwalui said.
“Once you’ve got a stable system, you get success.
“We’re really working on that alignment through the programs, whether it be state or international or club. We’re looking for that alignment.
“But I think that with some of the improvements that Australian rugby has made, we’re on a good track at the moment.
“Obviously, the results are going to be huge things with the Wallabies coming up. But I’ve got a heap of faith in Joe. He’s one of the great coaches, one of the great men. Peter Horne as well.
“I think they’re going to surprise some people with some of their results.”