Michael Cheika makes SHOCK move that puts him in the frame to take over from

• Cheika is a previous Wallabies mentor
• Took Argentina to World Cup semi-finals 
• Has emerged as prime candidate to replace Eddie Jones 

The door has opened for a reunion with the Wallabies with former coach Michael Cheika making the shock decision to walk out on Argentina in a move that makes him available for the country’s top rugby job.

Rugby Australia is carefully going through the process of finding a new Wallabies coach after the disaster that was Eddie Jones.

In his second coming as Wallabies coach, Jones tried to usher in an era of youth but it blew up in his face, resulting in Australia missing the quarter finals at the Rugby World Cup for the first time in history.

That saw Jones step down before he was pushed, just nine months after signing a deal that was supposed to take him through to 2027.

Now Cheika will become a prime candidate after his heroics with Los Pumas at the World Cup.

Under Cheika Argentina surged to the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup while they also beat All Blacks in New Zealand, the Wallabies in Australia, and England at Twickenham under his watch.

‘Having been the head coach of Los Pumas fills me with pride, and it is one of the experiences that I enjoyed the most in my career as a coach,’ Cheika told the Argentina Rugby Union (UAR) website.

‘Although I was born in Australia, a big part of me will be Argentina. I am convinced that Felipe and his staff are going to lead the team in the best way.’

Rugby Australia is not going to rush into replacing Jones, though, with respected Sydney sports executive Peter Horne set to be appointed as the new director of high performance.

He will join new RA chairman Daniel Herbert and chief executive Phil Waugh in appointing the new coach, with several candidates already coming forward.

Waugh said they would take their time to ensure the right decision was made. 

‘I like to be really methodical and considered about how we go about things,’ Waugh said.

‘I think getting the director of high performance landed and announced is really important, then ensuring that we’ve got the appropriate selection panel, which captures all the different stakeholders as best we can.

‘So that it’s around the Wallaby environment and it’s also around the culture of rugby in Australia as well.’

Waugh has also confirmed he is open to international candidates, which could open the door to the likes of All Blacks assistant coach Joe Schmidt.

‘I…