CARDIFF: Former ACT Brumbies director of rugby Laurie Fisher has backed Michael Cheika's plan for greater collaboration in Australian rugby, believing it can help lift the Wallabies back to the top of the world.
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But the man regarded by many as one of the world's best forwards coaches says using Super Rugby assistants instead of head coaches to boost the Wallabies could be the way forward.
Fisher and former Australian defence coach John Muggleton were keen onlookers at Wallabies training this week and met Cheika in Cardiff.
Cheika invited all of Australia's Super Rugby head coaches to join the Wallabies on their spring tour of Europe, but all declined because of their pre-season training commitments.
"I think it's great to try to involve [Super Rugby] coaches as much as possible, it's a noble idea and to involve them in the process is a great idea," Fisher said.
"I think it's difficult for head coaches to be involved, but I don't see why assistants couldn't be. Cheika is very clear in what he wants and how he wants to play, they train as he wants them to play.
"It's been a really worthwhile day being here and having a look. [The Wallabies] just need a clear plan, we've got good players we just have to demand more of them and have them know exactly what's expected of them."
Stephen Larkham will take charge of the Brumbies next season for the first time as the club's sole leader.
Larkham was offered the chance to join Cheika, but he declined to focus on the Brumbies. However, the retired champion flyhalf could still be part of the Wallabies' coaching set-up for the World Cup.
Larkham and Fisher were effectively co-coaches this year, with Larkham leading the backs and Fisher guiding the forwards.
Fisher backed his former understudy to step up after resigning from his role at the Brumbies at the end of the Super Rugby season to link with Gloucester.
The Canberra club rugby great is thriving in his new environment and has teamed up with Muggleton as his defence coach.
Muggleton is a former Australian rugby league player and was the Wallabies' defensive coach for 10 years.
Gloucester is sixth on the Aviva Premiership ladder with three wins from its six games.
Fisher is also blessed with international experience at Gloucester, with hooker Richard Hibbard in Wales' starting side to play the Wallabies this weekend and Greig Laidlaw to captain Scotland.
"One of the attractions about northern hemisphere rugby … we get 15,000 every game and they make incredible noise," Fisher said.
"The atmosphere over here is fantastic … my coaching hasn't changed dramatically, it's not that different to what I was doing at home."
Fisher hasn't ruled out a return to Australian rugby in the future. He was the Brumbies' head coach from 2005-08 and returned as part of Jake White's team in 2012.
"I wanted to come back to Europe because it was such an enjoyable experience [when I was with Munster]," Fisher said.
"You don't know when your opporunitiy is going to come. In two or three years' time there may be no opportunity. Gloucester has been down for a couple of years but has ambitions to improve, it's an exciting prospect."
