McGahan to add ruthless touch to Oz

New Wallabies coaching co-ordinator Tony McGahan said Friday he wanted to give the Australian side a cut-throat edge.

McGahan, 37, left his role as head coach of two-time European Cup champions Munster to become the right-hand man of Australia's head coach Robbie Deans.

The Australian joins fellow new assistants Andrew Blades and Nick Scrivener in the lead-up to the home Tests in June against Scotland and Wales.

McGahan's seven-year tenure at Munster saw him serve as defence and head coach, and in 2010 the Irish club upset the touring Australians.

He said he was confident his European club experience will help him bring a ruthless edge to the Wallabies, who finished third at last year's World Cup in New Zealand.

"That cut [throat] mentality and mindset that's certainly prevalent in European rugby will mean I can hopefully add value and bring some of those elements back to the Wallabies," McGahan told reporters.

McGahan said he was excited by the progress the Wallabies made last year, despite their World Cup failure.

And he said he believed there was a good foundation in place for success in the mid-year Tests and the Rugby Championship against New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.

His main brief will be to coach the Wallabies' defence but, as coaching coordinator, McGahan will also assist Deans and provide support to the whole staff.

McGahan earned his early reputation as a coaching coordinator with the Australian under-19 side, working with future Wallabies Rocky Elsom, Richard Brown, David Pocock, James Horwill, Digby Ioane and Tatafu Polota-Nau.

"We haven't really seen each other for a long period of time... they've certainly changed and grown into very influential international players, not only Wallabies," he said.

"And I've certainly changed a lot too, so it'll be interesting.

"But having a history with players makes the introduction back into any environment a little bit easier."

AFP