Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is poised to take charge of the Argentinian national team, according to local reports.

Cheika, who has already been working as a consultant to Los Pumas, would replace Mario Ledesma following his departure last month.

Former players Gonzalo Quesada and Felipe Contepomi are also linked with the job, but ex-Waratahs boss Cheika’s experience makes him the frontrunner.

“Cheika had already been with the national team as Ledesma’s adviser during the 2020 Tri-Nations and the July Tests and the 2021 Rugby Championship,” the La Nacion newspaper reported.

“In fact, the players themselves point to him as a key factor in the victory against New Zealand [in Sydney in 2020].”

However, La Nacion said appointing Cheika “draws attention because it occurs at a time when the Argentine Rugby Union is going through a time of scarcity, to the point that in recent years there have been considerable cuts”.