With Rugby Australia still searching for a new Wallabies coach as the calendar turned to April 1, the chance for the marketing pigeon to post a “Round three: Eddie’s back” troll came and went on Tuesday.

It would have created a few ripples. It’s seventeen months on, but still too soon.

A few ripples would have been welcome, though. Any movement at all would be welcome when it comes to the mystery of the Wallabies coach at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which has been the subject of mostly dragged-out silence and speculation for five months.

We know it won’t be Joe Schmidt, at least. Schmidt was only contracted until the end of the Lions tour, and after telling this masthead in November he would make a call about staying or going by Christmas, nothing happened until February 5.

Schmidt would stay for the Rugby Championship, but then depart, leaving a vacancy for a new coach. Having had plenty of time to work up contingency plans, RA said they hoped to whistle through the recruitment process and have an answer early in the upcoming Super Rugby season.

Almost two months later, however, and with Super Rugby round eight about to kick off, there are still no signs of white smoke from the RA chimney, and their recruitment conclave – comprising........

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