• Berne named Australia assistant coach

    Michael Cheika says 40-year-old Shaun Berne will add "new energy" to the Australia coaching staff.
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    Shaun Berne has been named as Australia assistant coach three months before the start of the Rugby World Cup.

    The Rebels attack coach replaces Stephen Larkham, who left his role in February due to a difference in attacking strategy between himself and Michael Cheika.

    Daryl Gibson held talks with Cheika over the vacancy after deciding to end his tenure as Waratahs head coach and Reds attack coach Jim McKay was also linked with the position.

    But it is Berne who has got the nod for a first coaching job at international level.

    “This is a huge opportunity for me personally but more importantly, I want to do whatever I can to make the Wallabies successful this year,” the 40-year-old said.

    “I want to contribute to the team by focusing on the things that will serve us best when we are under pressure, like passing, catching, alignment, running lines and deception – on and off the ball.

    “I just want to add wherever I can to the coaching team around me – it sounds simple but simple things done really well, all the time, will get us to where Cheika wants us to be as a team.”

    Australia head coach Cheika said of the former Western Force and Leinster A coach: “Shaun’s a great young coach and he’s going to add new energy into how we coach the players.

    “His job will be to help players achieve their top levels of play and stay at that level more consistently.”

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