He's assisted the last three Wallabies coaches, and Western Force boss in-waiting Richard Graham has declared: "I'm ready."

Head-hunted by Robbie Deans to join the current Wallabies staff as skills coach, Graham also worked under John Connolly at English club Bath and Eddie Jones at Saracens.

Throw in former England mentor Brian Ashton and ex-All Blacks boss John Mitchell, the departing Force coach who Graham has been assisting there, and the 38-year-old has worked under five national coaches.

He is set to replace Mitchell at the helm of the Perth-based Super rugby side after the Kiwi cut his time there short to join South Africa's Lions.

Contracted to the Australian Rugby Union until the end of 2011, negotiations are continuing over what roles Graham might have with both the Wallabies and Force.

"At some stage you've got to step off the ledge and stand on your own two feet," Graham told AAP as the Wallabies prepared for their Tri-Nations Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein.

"Given the apprenticeship that I've done, I've learnt a lot from those people and certainly my understanding of the game is far greater for that.

"Those men have learnt obviously at the very highest level and their advice coming back to me has helped me significantly, and also helps in you moulding your own philosophy.

"So I'm ready."

After an injury-marred start to his playing career with Queensland, fullback Graham found himself stuck behind champion No.15 Chris Latham and got his first assistant coaching gig with Bath in 2002 aged 29.

He joined the Wallabies in May 2009 after Deans got wind of his growing reputation and has seen the good - and bad - points of the last three Wallabies bosses.

"John (Conolly) had a very good ability when things weren't going well to make sure the group stayed focused on what they were doing," he says.

"His saying was 'circle the wagons', he used to say 'don't worry what people say outside the group'.

"That certainly gave the group a lot of belief."

For the oft-maligned Jones, Graham has a massive regard.

"In terms of the systems and structures in place, the best I've seen," Graham said.

"In the seven months I worked underneath him, it would be fair to say I learnt more in that short period that at any other time in my career." And Deans? Five Super rugby titles make him "something special", Graham says.

"Robbie's got an unwavering belief in what he's doing, he's got a very clear direction in his mind and he hasn't deviated from that," he says.

Graham's own philosophy on coaching can be boiled down to this - get to know your players.

"People will generally want to play for you and play well for you if they know you care," he says.

He says Mitchell has given the Force a strong foundation - there are eight players from the franchise on the current Wallabies tour - but good recruitment is also needed.

And the Grahams, a family of five, have already made Perth their home.

"My little girl is six and she's been in six homes in six years so for us it's a great opportunity to settle as best we can," he says.

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