Dan McKellar would be an asset to the Wallabies if invited to be part of the Test setup, according to Brumbies prop James Slipper.
McKellar's name has been mentioned as a candidate for the vacant forwards coaching role in the national setup after leading the Brumbies to the top of the Australian conference in 2019 and a 5-1 start in 2020.
Speculation first emerged about the Wallabies' interest in McKellar before the season was shut down and that discussion re-emerged this week.
Incoming Wallabies coach Dave Rennie had plenty of praise for McKellar, speaking to media on Monday, and the Brumbies have said they would support the 43-year-old juggling his Brumbies coaching job with a national role as well.
With Rugby Australia cutting one-third of its full-time staff, there has been a push for current coaches to be involved in dual roles, at least for the short-term.
Junior Wallabies coach Jason Gilmore has recently joined the Waratahs as defence coach for the Super Rugby AU season and McKellar's potential Wallabies involvement would not affect his ACT duties.
McKellar is currently contracted with the Brumbies through to the end of 2021 and there is no suggestion that he would be departing the Super Rugby setup early.
It wouldn't be the first time that coaches have juggled Super Rugby and Test duties in the same season - former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and his assistants Nathan Grey and Stephen Larkham all had Super Rugby roles ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and Larkham continued as head coach of the Brumbies until the end of 2017.
Should he get the opportunity, Slipper said McKellar would certainly be a valuable addition to the national setup.
McKellar was one of those who gave Slipper a second chance at Super Rugby after he moved on from the Reds in the wake of a drugs suspension, and the prop has been openly grateful for the opportunity.
"As long as he stays at the Brumbies," he said.
"I think he's done an unbelievable job, he's turned into one of my favourite coaches.
"The way he gets his point across through training and holds the boys accountable for what they're doing at training is really good. I think if Dan was given an opportunity to coach at Australian level, I reckon he'd do pretty well."
Slipper said he was excited about the new era of Wallabies and the standards that were immediately set by incoming coach Rennie when he visited clubs in January.
"He put it out there that he was after really physical players and there was a few attributes in players that he wanted to see," he said.
"All the players were just excited to see him personally.
"The biggest thing from having Dave down here is he is going to pick players on form and as a player that's what you want to hear."
The Brumbies take on the Rebels in their Super Rugby AU opener on Saturday July 4 at GIO Stadium, kicking off at 7:15pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Foxtel Now and kayo Sports. Buy a Kayo subscription here.
