Michael Cheika is keeping full faith in his World Cup vision despite a rocky start to his tenure as Wallabies coach.
After being thrust into the role less than a week before the spring tour, Cheika faces the prospect of overseeing Australia’s worst European campaign since the 2005 tour that led to former coach Eddie Jones’ sacking.
Cheika insists nobody hates losing more than him and he’s confident Australia can bounce back from successive defeats to Ireland and France in this weekend’s tour finale against England at Twickenham.
But the Waratahs coach says results won’t alter his belief in the game plan and team culture he’s had little time to implement.
“The reality is I had three days to come in and get sorted,” said Cheika, whose appointment followed Ewen McKenzie’s dramatic resignation.
“And I’m not looking for excuses but you look at any turnaround in changing teams both player-wise and culturally, it takes a bit of time.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to have patience and belief.
“I believe this is the way we can be successful and the reality is we’ve lost these two games but we’re not a long way away. We’re not getting hammered or anything.”
Cheika is no stranger to coming in for criticism early in a coaching stint.
His success with the Waratahs and Irish side Leinster took time to build and while he admits he faces a new set of challenges at international level, he believes the Australian public will warm to a team with a clear focus.
“I’ve been there before when people are throwing eggs and you just have to hold your nerve,” he said.
“Follow what you believe and keep driving and eventually people respect that.
“It’s a bit different here because it’s much shorter and we’ve got to try and get it together for the World Cup.
“We’re not going to be together all the time so we’re going to have to be relatively creative around how we do that.
“We’re going to have to work hard in the Super Rugby period in what we deliver to players and how we get that message across so we can keep building things in the background.”
Cheika will monitor the fitness of Tevita Kuridrani (ankle) and hooker Saia Fainga’a (quad) in the coming days after both were injured in Saturday’s 26-23 loss to Ireland.
The coach suggested inside centre Matt Toomua had done enough to secure a starting spot for the England clash after he was one of Australia’s best against Ireland in his first Test start of the tour.
Fijian-born winger Henry Speight also impressed on debut and is pushing for a place against England while Cheika has signalled a possible return for rising backrower Sean McMahon.
Waratahs halves Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps appear to have done enough to repel selection pressure from Reds veterans Quade Cooper and Will Genia.
Australia are trying to avoid losing three games on a spring tour for the first time since 2005.
SandBox
Roar Guru
Mick, Rob C's comment is more than justified. Does Cheika really need the double pay check? He is rumoured to be independently wealthy and just doing us a favour. I hope he gets the WBs to go well at the RWC, but can't help but think we are already 'building' for 2019
Fin
Guest
And what a beautiful story it was. You should write romance.
AndyS
Guest
Mate, it is the ARU. Regardless of what was spun, he probably only got the job on the condition he didn't put them to any expense finding a replacement. If he really did insist, I bet they couldn't agree quickly enough.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
I hear you about Robbie Deans being the only Aussie coach to ever have a AB-v-WB perceived c-o-i, but I was specific about RD not having a perceived c-o-i with regard to favouring one state over others. (Thanks for the complement of reading all the way through my screed.)
TP
Guest
Very nicely reasoned. However, Robbie Dean's had a conflict of interests in his role as Wallabies Coach. The conflict involved his caps as an All Black, his desire to be the All Black coach and his life long support of the All Blacks. As the All Blacks are the Wallabies most prized enemy there was always a conflict of interest. It is impossible for a human to put a life long relationship aside for a paycheque.
Don
Roar Rookie
I think he is the best man for the job too. However, when he was negotiating with the ARU and said he will only do it so long as he is still able to coach NSW, I would have suspended negotiations, picked up the phone and called Jake White. Cheika would have either backed down from his NSW position or not taken the Wallabies job. Either way we wouldn't be hearing of any state bias in selections for the next year.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
RobC's answer is more complete in looking at rugby issues than mine, but I want to address what is meant by a conflict of interests, since some people seem hazy on this point. Everyone needs to get past this statement: "... while I agree that the dual position gives rise to the perception of a conflict of interest, it’s hard to see how the conflict will occur in reality." There is flat-out a conflict of interest and SG even notes it in point (b) of his "greater problems", being "the toll on Cheika’s energy and focus that dual roles will take". Not being able to give 100% of himself to the national role because he simultaneously holds a state role is a conflict of interest. The point that Cheika's supporters seem to want to make is that Cheika will deal admirably with the conflict of interest because in making decisions, his personal integrity is of the highest calibre. That may be so. But it doesn't resolve the problem of Cheika having at some stage to dissappoint his NSW employers, players and fans by a decision for the national interest, or disappointing everyone else if he makes a decision in the other direction. Having a conflict of interest is simply being in a position of divided loyalties. By the way, virtually every poster on this blog has a conflict of interest between their state allegiences and support of the national side. There are only two real problems that arise from having a conflict of interest. The first is if you make a decision deliberately favouring one interest over another when you know it is the wrong decision but it suits your personal preferences to do so. From everything I have read about Cheika, it would be a massive shock if he didn't have the integrity to avoid this problem. The other problem is where you make a decision by carefully balancing the competing interests and come to what you genuinely feel is the right decision in all the circumstances. The interest favoured by the decision will thank you for your integrity. Unfortunately, the other side will usually not see how you balanced the decision and will accuse you of incorrectly favouring the other. That is, the aggreived side will see your carefully balanced decision as being biased by your conflicting interest. The moral of all this is that when you are in a highly visible position with a conflict of interests, you simply can't win. You will be criticised (sometimes fairly, often unfairly) regardless of how you go about things. This is why people who find themselves in such positions routinely remove themselves from one of the conflicting roles. Just an end note on the expression "perceived conflict of interest". Having a perceived conflict of interests is where some may think you have divided loyalties in your position, regardless of whether that is so. The only coach/selector in Australian rugby history who has not had a perceived conflict of interests with regard to favouring their state over others is Robbie Deans, for the obvious reason. The only coach/selector who has had an actual conflict of interests is Michael Cheika. At some stage NSW will not thank him for putting himself in that position, or the rest of Australia will condemn him for putting himself in that position. The quicker NSW sort out a replacement for MC, the better off will be Australian rugby, NSW rugby and MC himself. (Seeing as how MC doesn't do it for the money, I presume he will not force a payout of his NSW contract.)
TP
Guest
I think many are already suggesting his selections are biased. If the starting line is similar to the last line up then further weight will be given to these suggestions of bias.
AndyS
Guest
So in the two weeks he will get to focus on the Wallabies and he has to choose between a player from another province vs a lesser 'Tahs player but one who has been playing his system for six months, you don't think that will affect his thinking? These Wallabies have had a month at it and are still struggling...
Hello
Guest
RobC that is very true and hard to argue with.
Crystal Ball
Guest
Keep the Faith! This team has not given us any results, close loses, a thrashing, is this the best team we have, basically the same group for a few years now, we need more adventure Cheika, Luke Jones is going to be dropped, he hasn't played any footy for a while, Skelton, boy in a man's body, we could do with Luke Inman, big hard runing centre, I am a Foley fan but why don't we try a different back combination for the England test, Phipps, Toomua,Speight, Leafano, Horne, English and Beale at fifteen. Folau needs a rest but he is not a kicking fullback and we need that v Enhland, or put Folau on the wing. More tactical kicking and put the ball out chaps.
alex
Roar Pro
Rankings have just been released and The Wallabies are at their lowest since the rankings were established poor boys have dropped to fifth, with a game against the poms next week i'm not too sure if they can drop further... I for one hope Cheika gets this team right, 6 games to go before the world cup not much time to mess around with combinations and the like... As a kiwi its imperative having a strong wallaby team to play against, even if OZ don't make it out of their pool next WC Cheika has to keep the top job regardless, the team needs stability
RobC
Roar Guru
Ah move on from what. I think after EM left, Cheika is clearly the best person for the job. No doubts, no grudges. That he is the best person for the job is the reason I suggest he should focus 100% on it
RobC
Roar Guru
Gday Gator. Gday yes there are more pressing issues. Like playing well this weekend. Look forward to the match On the dual role I believe the CoI is more than perception. The conflicting priorities in holding both posts already inherits it. One area of concern, among many, for the national coach role in is players, techniques tactics and winning strategies with provincial teams. For example improving the WBS scrum vs the Tahs scrum: - to what extent will RG and Stiles want to discuss tactics and players with Cheika as the national coach, knowing they are talking to the guy who wants to punish the Reds scrum? - To what extent will Cheika want to advice the other teams on what the Tahs are doing to improve the WB set piece, knowing that the provincial teams will use it against them in SR2015? Same for every other facet of Rugby in the pack, packs, tactics and strategy. Not just this but also other basics such as fitness, strength. That's just the basics. The sooner Cheika relinquishes the Tahs role, the better for Oz Rugby. But thats only an opinon.
Paul
Guest
Cry me a river. He was committed to the Waratahs job, he has stuck to his commitments. He is only in this position because the previous coach couldn't stick to theirs. Should he run out on his team at the 11th hour just because McKenzie did? Would you be happier if he turned the job down and it went to some second rate amateur? There seems to be begrudging acceptance that he is the best person for the job, so how about you just move on
firstxv
Guest
Yes I can confirm you will enjoy that thoroughly Magic, being one of those roarers watching the Cheika lovers sucking up during the AI's...
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Rob, while I agree that the dual position gives rise to the perception of a conflict of interest, it's hard to see how the conflict will occur in reality. He will try to win each S15 game, but so will every other coach. Aren’t the greater problems: a) that the other Australian coaches won’t buy into and support the national team’s direction and approach because they perceive a risk of jeopardising their own positions? and b) the toll on Cheika’s energy and focus that dual roles will take? As you say, it’s only for one season, but it’s a bloody big one.
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
Sounds as if AFL is exactly what you deserve. Carry on.
RobC
Roar Guru
Im the only so called guru who has posted here so far - so it must be me. If you read it again, I am neither critical or positive of his performance. Defensive much? I did not suggest he resign his WBs role. Just the Waratahs. That is not negative against the WBs or Cheika. In fact it should have a positive effect. And btw yes I have quit my job to turn things around. Some good, some early disasters. I also have been in positions where Ive had to clear people and departments out. Ive also been in positions of national stewardship, where integrity is paramount alongside performance. Just not in terms of integrity of intent / values, but also integrity of capability. His dual position, is rife conflict of interest. As I have seen in many instances, people who do it believes its the right thing - because the end justifies the means. But its only for one season, so we shall see.
firstxv
Guest
Its the fact that ts unprecedented- theres not even a season to compare to, see what the issues were. I'm sure there will be a reason no other coach has done this in the 18 or so years of the sxv. Yet here its given no thought at all. Yep I'll coach the W's...so long as I can coach the Tahs as well. Sure Cheika...she's all yours.