Australian Rugby Union supremo John O'Neill has taken a swipe at the NSW board for their clumsy handling of the Waratahs' coaching situation and pleaded for the spotlight to return to on-field matters.
As the Waratahs zero in on an historic first Super rugby title, O'Neill is concerned that ongoing speculation surrounding the coach post-2008 is undermining the team's title chances.
With the NSW board understood to be divided about the decision not to renew Ewen McKenzie's contract beyond this season - and now McKenzie's backers pushing for the World Cup-winning prop to be retained - the whole sorry saga has become a major distraction for the Waratahs in the lead-up to Saturday night's semi-final against the Sharks.
O'Neill today said enough was enough and condemned the NSW board for airing their dirty laundry in public.
"I don't think there's room for any applause for anyone at the moment," he said.
"It's really not appropriate talking about anything other than the game on Saturday.
"They finished second in one of the toughest competitions in world rugby and all the focus deserves to be on the team.
"They've made it to a home semi-final against the Sharks this Saturday night and I want to encourage everyone to come out and support them."
O'Neill said although "it's a NSW Rugby Union matter, not an ARU matter", he felt compelled to intervene for the sake of Australian rugby in general.
"There's been a lot of speculation in the press about the coaching position," he said.
"Our real emphasis is on the team. The coaching decisions can wait til the end of the season.
"They could well make the final. (I've got) every confidence they will.
"I'd like to keep the coaching issues out of the media for the next couple of weeks and (urge everyone to) show up at the SFS on Saturday night.
"Phil Waugh and Dan Vickerman and Lote Tuqiri deserve all the support all the Waratahs supporters can give them."
"If you were a player, if you were a Dan Vickerman or a Phil Waugh and you had all your efforts and concentration on the game, I don't think all the speculation about the coaching position is helpful."
The board made the controversial decision to cut McKenzie loose at the end of the 2008 campaign on April Fool's Day, despite having told the coach pre-season he could keep his job if the Waratahs made the semi-finals.
The decision immediately caused unrest among the board and, now that the Waratahs have made the playoffs, NSW chairman Arvid Petersen and chief executive Jim L'Estrange are under increasing pressure to complete an embarrassing about-face and reappoint McKenzie.
Despite McKenzie saying he is "happy to talk" about staying on - Petersen and L'Estrange have offered no sign they are willing to budge.
L'Estrange has maintained throughout the entire affair that the naming of a new coach would not be made until the Waratahs' Super 14 season was over.
That would mean the identity of McKenzie's successor will not be known until at least next Monday, or possibly after the tournament final on May 31.
