‘Rugby’s lost its way’: Campese wants to shake-up the system as Waratahs coach

Arguably the greatest and most controversial Waratah of them all, David Campese has put his hand up for the vacant NSW job and he wants to shake up Australian rugby along the way.

David Campese has put his hand up for the vacant Waratahs job.

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David Campese, rugby’s one-off Wizard of Oz, is a shock contender to fill the vacancy as NSW Waratahs coach with his pitch for an urgent skills upgrade.

Famous for his vocal, unfiltered views on where the Wallabies and Waratahs don’t cut it, Campese now wants to be hands-on in the shake-up himself.

“Campo” officially lodged his application to replace Daryl Gibson on Thursday with the support of 1991 World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer and Wallabies great Mark Ella.

Three years as a skills mentor for the Durban-based Sharks is his Super Rugby experience with the whistle but he’s been a skills coach at different levels for more than a decade.

David Campese has put his hand up for the vacant Waratahs job.

“I just think it’s time we put rugby back where it belongs so we’ve got kids with more idols who are Waratahs and Wallabies,” Campese said.

“I’m sick of the system now where good Aussie coaches I know seem to have to go overseas to get a break.”

Campese’s touchpoints will strike a chord with Sydney’s Shute Shield clubs who showed the Waratahs how to pull a crowd when nearly 10,000 packed Manly Oval for the Warringah-Manly derby in May.

Campo’s BMW with No.11 number plates.

Jason Little (L) chases his Wallaby teammate David Campese (ball) in 1994.

“I want club rugby to be the feeder system for the Waratahs and far more accent on skills to play the style players and fans will find both find enjoyable and exciting,” Campese said.

“For sure, I’d get rid of the pod system where players are more worried about where they need to be than just playing the game in front of them.

“I know Cheik will probably say I’m an idiot stuck in the 1980s and ‘90s but rugby has lost it’s way.”

Campese, 56, played with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika as a teammate in run-and-stun Randwick sides but his legend was built in gold.

David Campese and Scott Bowen after NSW beat QLD in 1996.

He held the world record for Test tries (64) for 20 years and ruled the 1991 World Cup as player of the tournament with gems like his ‘untouchable’ try against the All Blacks in Dublin.

“I’ve been out there coaching kids around the country for 18 months and when you see 1000 kids turning up in Armidale for a tournament you realise you need to set-up a system where NSW Country gets far more resources to keep young talent in rugby,” Campese said.