KEY POINTS:
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) board met for five hours yesterday but was not ready to announce a decision on the new Wallabies coach.
And today there is speculation that wage demands are behind the hold-up.
Most pundits believe New Zealander Robbie Deans is still the hot favourite
to be named in the job as early as Friday.
Australian media said today that $1million wage demands were slowing the negotiations.
The nine-man ARU board, chaired by Canberra lawyer Peter McGrath, went behind closed doors at 4pm on Thursday with the successor to John Connolly high on the agenda.
But a statement released last night said the board was not yet in a position to confirm an appointment.
"The Australian Rugby Union has no decision to announce today on the Wallabies coaching position for 2008," the statement read.
"The selection panel, via its chairman Rod McCall, presented a report to the ARU board at its scheduled meeting in Sydney this afternoon following interviews with the six candidates.
"The board is not yet in a position to confirm an appointment."
The statement added the ARU would not be making further comment until tomorrow, when the two-day board meeting concludes.
The board can accept the selection panel recommendation, over-rule it or ask to meet with one of the candidates.
As well as Deans, Auckland Blues coach David Nucifora, former national coach Alan Jones, the Waratahs' Ewen McKenzie, the Brumbies' Laurie Fisher and Wallabies assistant John Muggleton have been interviewed for the job.
Deans received a late interview and met the ARU's selection panel in Brisbane on Tuesday night after he had unsuccessfully applied for the All Blacks job.
He has since returned to Christchurch and was back at the helm of the Crusaders today.
The 48-year-old former All Black, who has won four Super rugby titles with the Crusaders, would be the first ever foreigner appointed to the Wallabies job.
That move has caused controversy with current captain Stirling Mortlock and Wallabies legend John Eales supporting it, but 1991 World Cup winning skipper Nick Farr-Jones opposed.
Nucifora, the only other candidate to have coached a Super title-winning side, has been considered the leading Australian chance, although broadcaster Jones is believed to have some support among board members.
- AAP
