Payto&Panda: ACT Brumbies to swoop on Dave Wessels if Western Force culled from Super Rugby

THE Western Force shutting down wouldn’t spell the end of Dave Wessels’ burgeoning coaching career in Australia, with the Brumbies ready to swoop.

THE Western Force shutting down wouldn’t spell the end of Dave Wessels burgeoning coaching career in Australia, with the Brumbies ready to swoop on the young South African.

The Brumbies are finalising their search for a new head coach to replace Stephen Larkham and recently began interviewing a four-person shortlist, which includes assistant coach Dan McKellar and popular ACT stalwart Laurie Fisher.

Western Force coach Dave Wessels is in demand.

But the Brumbies are waiting to see what happens in Perth before they make a final call.

Wessels has fans in the right places and we understand the Brumbies are keen on luring the 35-year-old back to Canberra if the Force are shut down.

He was a defence coach under Jake White at the Brumbies in 2012, before joining Michael Foley’s staff at the Force in 2013.

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He beat higher-profile contenders to replace Foley when he was sacked last year.

The mail about Wessels has been floating through Canberra this week and CEO Michael Thompson didn’t do much to hose the rumour down on ABC Canberra this week.

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is on the way out of Canberra.

“Dave has performed well with the Force and he does has a history at the Brumbies. At the moment he is not on our radar and we haven’t had any discussions with him, so we will just see what happens in the next little while to make a decision. But we have two very good candidates we are focusing on at the moment.”

If the Force survive, McKellar is the man most likely to replace Larkham but whether he’d stay in Canberra as an assistant remains to be seen.

We hear he has options in Japan, too, and a it’d be a shame to see another good Aussie coach leave. Developments in Melbourne may change the picture.

GORDON’S FLASH DISPLAY

JAKE Gordon’s impressive performance against the Hurricanes last week won the rookie NSW halfback a late invitation to Michael Cheika’s Wallaby camp.

Jake Gordon passes for the Waratahs during the round seven match against the Hurricanes in Wellington. Picture: Getty Images

Gordon was one of three halfbacks at the get-together, along with Nick Phipps and Joe Powell. It is expected Will Genia will be available in the June series.

DYLAN’S A DOER

DYLAN Pietsch. Remember the name is the tip from former Wallabies No.8 Stephen Hoiles, who was full of praise after the 18-year-old shone for the Classic Wallabies in their Hong Kong Tens campaign last week.

Pietsch was voted their players’ player after turning in superb form for the invitational team and in a nice touch, the teenager was given his award by George Gregan, his boyhood hero.

Rising star Dylan Pietsch with former Wallabies captain George Gregan.

Pietsch grew up in Brumbies’ territory at Leeton. A member of the Australian sevens program, he is 13th man for Andy Friend’s team in Singapore this weekend.

He debuted for the Aussie team in Wellington earlier this year. Though a No.8 at school, Hoiles see Pietsch making a future at centre given his pace and footwork.

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“He was outstanding for us and is a really impressive kid,” Hoiles said.

Hoiles said the Classic Wallabies tour was a great chance for rising young stars to mix and learn from retired legends like Wendell Sailor and Steve Menzies.

BARRETT A LUCKY DUCK

RADIO silence from the Waratahs in their bye week but take it as read NSW aren’t impressed with Beauden Barrett getting off scot-free for his red card last week in Wellington.

The All Blacks star was given two yellow cards for cynical knockdowns; the second almost certainly costing NSW a try that could have seen them within three points, with three minutes to play.

Beauden Barrett makes a break against the Waratahs. Picture: Getty Images

But it didn’t get a penalty try. Barrett’s 77th-minute red card meant he had to front a judiciary where he got the further sanction of …. nothing. Nada.

SANZAAR judicial officer Adam Casselden decided the on-field penalty was enough. So let’s do the maths: two cynical knock-ons, one costing a try and the price is (subtract one, carry the four): two minutes off the field. Sounds just.

O’CONNOR DOTH PROTEST

WRONG place, wrong time. That was James O’Connor’s defence when he faced a French rugby disciplinary committee for getting busted for cocaine.

James O'Connor leaves after appearing before the French disciplinary commission in Paris. Picture: AFP

O’Connor and former All Blacks star Ali Williams spent an hour in the LNR headquarters in Paris to answer for their arrests in Paris in February. Williams was fined for buying cocaine and O’Connor was fined for using it.

The 35-year-old former lock Williams was fired by French Top 14 champions Racing 92 and O’Connor, 26, recently returned to Toulon following suspension by the club.

“I have given all the evidence, and I think they will understand that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, so yes, I’m sure it will work out,” O’Connor said after his hearing.