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Jake White and Michael Cheika have gone about the difficult task of reviving a rugby team in fairly divergent ways.
Let’s check in with each project and see what decisions were made to get them where they are now.
In Canberra, White has taken the driving seat at a club on the verge of implosion during the 2011 season.
Over at Moore Park, Cheika is still in the embryonic stages of attempting to arrest a Waratahs decline that is also as much about culture as results.
White and Cheika were both tasked with bringing two proud clubs into the winning circle and are engaging a few different tactics to get the job done.
In Roger Davis, Cheika has a second hard-man to help him from a managerial stand point at the Waratahs. This would be a valuable asset in a highly politicised environment and one Cheika hasn’t been afraid to use.
Davis was very helpful when it came to luring Israel Folau to the club. He was able to negotiate well for the Waratahs and between the ARU and Folau’s camp. We are yet to see if the signing pays off on the field, but it is always worth a punt on an athletic talented prospect.
At the Brumbies it certainly looks like Jake White is the man with the answers and the most power to get things done.
He doesn’t appear to have as much of a reliance on other parts of management. This isn’t necessarily better or worse than Cheika’s situation, just different.
He’s an astute coach at all levels; I wouldn’t be surprised if he only signed on with the troubled club once a “let me do whatever I think is right” clause was in his contract.
Along with different management styles off the field, the coaches have gone about it differently on the field.
At the Brumbies you could summarise the style under White as “keep it simple”. They have stripped back the game to the bare essentials and aim to out enthuse and make fewer mistakes than the opposition to win.
White has birthed a ‘pack’ mentality in literal and figurative terms at the Brumbies.
In literal terms that is evident in the reinvigoration of players such as Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander and the second tier players such as Peter Kimlin, Scott Fardy and Ben Mowen.
On the field, White has asked these players to be the foundation of the Brumbies success – everything good happens because of the pack.
In response to that White structures the team to keep the ball in front of the pack and has focused on set pieces to get on top of the opposition if needed.
Perhaps the trump card last year was the rise and rise of Michael Hooper who has since moved to the Waratahs but White has arguably strengthened the back-row department with the signings of David Pocock and now George Smith.
In figurative terms the ‘pack’ mentality is expressed by a more cohesive team spirit.
There isn’t a group of players that absorb the spot-light anymore – on or off the field. He’s managed to mould the group into a focused unit, willing to do what it takes to get the job done.
Sure, there are talented backs in the club and occasionally they do pour in the points.
Going hell-for-leather style from the outset isn’t the foundation of this side. Points are often a result of a tired and demoralised opposition forced into mistakes rather than an onslaught.
Possibly the biggest personnel decision White has made at the club to date was the elevation and subsequent success of Nic White at halfback.
He was promoted to be the out and out first option last year and rewarded the coach in spades. Unlike the pack – where a group mentality is most important – the half back himself simply must possess safe skills and execute the thinking of the coach on the field.
Nic White has shown a steady hand with the reigns and his skills (kicking and running around the ruck in particular) have been high class.
A new coach needs a few of his early selections to pay off big time if results are to go their way early. The White-White show has been all success so far in the ACT.
While we haven’t yet seen his team deployed in competition many times, it seems Cheika is going about his job for the Waratahs a bit differently.
From what we have seen on the field and what noises he’s been making to the press, Cheika has focused a lot more on preparing multi-skilled athletes that will be used to play an aesthetically pleasing style.
This is an obvious reaction to the fan-base recoiling from the style and character of the last few Waratahs’ teams.
Looking at the game against the Reds you see Folau – new and untested – starting in the full back position.
He didn’t have a good game and he may be run somewhere else for the time being but the initial selection showed that Cheika wants the people with athleticism to be in the position to influence the game more often.
Bernard Foley seems to be the preferred fly-half now. Even if Berrick Barnes returns at inside centre (I don’t think Cheika will persist with the less-athletic Carter there if he doesn’t have to) to help with the organisation of the team, Foley is still going to get a lot of ball and have a chance to show his craft.
The promotion of Ben Volavola out of the extended playing squad to the game-day 22 against the Reds is another example of electricity being injected into the side by Cheika. Volavola ran the ball only four times but gained 68m on the weekend (the most metres gained by the team) and still has the classic rugby skills such as a booming boot (3 kicks – 128m).
Another theme that leaps out of Cheika is the need for fitter players with mongrel. This is obvious in his previous coaching stints, his playing days and from what he says in the media.
It sounds like he’s put the entire team through their paces this pre-season without giving anyone leeway. The benching of Benn Robinson for the first round clash with the Reds hammered that point home clearly.
It seems as though Cheika expects his side to play at a good tempo for the entire 80 minutes. Whenever the Waratahs have tried to play with width or enterprise in recent years they haven’t been able to sustain it.
Clearly Cheika sees this as a key to unlocking the potential in his stock.
All Waratahs are Waratahs under Cheika. There aren’t any Wallabies waiting for the real season to start anymore.
The caution to remember with trying to play an expansive, up-tempo game is the Reds under Phil Mooney. When he took over from Eddie Jones he tried to switch the team immediately to an expansive game to entertain crowds.
He wasn’t successful in doing much else during his two years there. Foundations were laid for Ewen McKenzie, yes, but success was elusive.
Cheika needs to find the balance between entertaining an impatient fan-base and also doing the hard yards needed to win in a tough competition.
What is similar?
White and Cheika have chosen captains of similar ilk. Ben Mowen and Dave Dennis are both back-row, lead by example, fly under the radar type choices. This is an interesting overlapping in the light of so many other things that have been done differently.
It will be interesting to see how the Waratahs develop under their first season with Cheika. Will he need to adjust his methods, or alter the adopted style?
While, for White, the question is whether the Brumbies can take their early success to the next level and make their presence felt in finals rugby.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.