Brumbies assistant Laurie Fisher says he is optimistic about the sense of unity that the new crop of Wallabies coaches are bringing with them.
While incoming Test coach Dave Rennie doesn't officially start until July, he and his assistants Scott Wisemantel and Matt Taylor have been in regular contact with players and coaches in Super Rugby througohut the year.
The group set up a zoom call with clubs earlier this week as well, to discuss what could be taken out of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition after its opening round last weekend.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic forced the sport to be shut down, Rennie and his assistants were making changes to national structures, eliminating midseason Wallabies camps among other initiatives.
Fisher said he felt there was going to be a close relationship between the Super Rugby teams and the Wallabies coaches moving forward.
"We'll get a real sense of unity and common purpose. Once you get that, if you harness the strength of all the teams I think there will be a real movement forward," he said.
"I'd be really encouraged about where our performances are going to go over the next couple of years. If performances go well, the sport will grow again.
"(It's) about game analysis, game trends and what's important at Wallaby level ... providing leadership about different aspects of the game. I think (the Wallabies coaches) are really involved in what respective teams are doing.
"That sort of leadership and common purpose will go a long way. We had a Zoom catch up about the first round of games in New Zealand last weekend and what sort of impact that might have on where we're going.
"That sort of regular catch up will be superb and help us move forward. The national team has to come first. It doesn't mean we all play the same at the level underneath.
"That doesn't happen in New Zealand ...but if we're all on the same page about what's working ... about what are the non-negotiables for Australian players in terms of conditioning, skill-sets, game understanding, then we're half a chance of delivering what we want to."
The structure of Super Rugby going forward has been hotly debated with a broadcast deal still yet to be finalised for 2021 and beyond.
Australia's players have been vocal about their desire for a trans-Tasman competition but there are consistent reports from across the ditch about a reticence to switch to that model.
While Fisher was careful to stay away from expressing his views on the ideal structure for Super Rugby going forward, he was more unequivocal on renewed talk of a Brumbies-Rebels merger in Super Rugby.
"I wasn't aware it was being raised again," he said.
"I think we've shown since 1996 the capacity to be very successful standalone rugby team and rugby area. I don't see that changing."
The Super Rugby AU competition kicks off on July 3, with the Brumbies taking on the Rebels on July 4 at GIO Stadium.
