As we move into the festive season and leave 2014 behind, get ready for a new-look for Australian rugby in 2015, thanks to Michael Cheika.
The Wallabies coach is part of the old-school rugby that’s to be enjoyed, yet Cheika is well-versed in professional rugby that requires discipline.
And for those who bleat Cheika should give up his Waratahs job to concentrate on his Walaby responsibilities, step back for one moment. Recognise that while he’s coaching the Waratahs against the other four franchises, he’ll be able to gauge first hand how Wallaby contenders cope with the pressure Cheika heaps on them.
That’s the best of both worlds as Cheika sets out to retain the Super Rugby title, after securing the Waratahs’ first in 19 years. Cheika achieved the ‘impossible’ in only his second season.
For the 2015 Wallabies, working on the utopia assumption all genuine contenders are both fully-fit, and in good form.
Cheika’s first big decision will be his Wallaby captain, where hooker Stephen Moore is the stand-out. The next decision of importance will be choosing between David Pocock or Michael Hooper for the number seven jersey.
The third, how to treat the inclusion of NRL-AFL recruit Karmichael Hunt, who is a superb acquisition for the Reds. Hunt will take rugby by storm, as Israel Folau did, and will continue to do so.
And with the long injury list about to be wiped out, Cheika will get a migraine trying to settle on his first choice Wallaby squad in 2015.
The list is impressive.
Props
James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, Scott Sio, Tetera Faulkner, Pek Cowan, Benn Robinson and Ben Alexander.
Hookers
Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Hanson and Saia Fainga’a.
Locks
Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, Sam Carter, James Horwill, Cadeyrn Neville, and Luke Jones.
Backrowers
David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, David Dennis, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Wycliff Palu and Liam Gill.
Half-backs
Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Nic White and Ben Meehan.
Fly-halves
Bernard Foley, Quade Cooper and Matt Toomua.
Centres
Kurtley Beale, Matt Tomua, Karmichael Hunt, Tevita Kuridrani, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Lealiifano and Kyle Godwin.
Wingers
Henry Speight, James O’Connor, Nick Cummins, Rob Horne, Tom English, Joe Tomane and Peter Betham.
Full-back
None better than Israel Folau.
So bring on 2015 with confidence, knowing Michael Cheika will make it work.
But in the meantime a Merry Christmas to all sporting folk, on and off the field, around the world.
Rockin Rod
Guest
... And apparently by Lord's wisdom he will see them all "first hand"- as opposed to a non-provincial coach that must watch via a re enactment. How will cheika know what the other team's players are going through- he won't have access- the logic of NB and Lord is completely blinded by parochial biased...
Rockin Rod
Guest
If Cheika doesn't coach the warratahs, he will have far more access to all players around the country.... He can work on players individual needs. How can he get access to Genia - just pop up to qld's training for a couple of sessions? It is so rediculous it defies logic. The wallabies may still win the World Cup (unlikely) but it won't be because cheika also coaches the tahs- to suggest that is crazy
Rockin Rod
Guest
Dear o dear.... Deluded
Rockin Rod
Guest
How is having a coach do both jobs better?
Rockin Rod
Guest
The cooperation of the other 4 provincial coaches
Rockin Rod
Guest
Sarcasm - never has been the talent of North americans!
dru
Guest
Completely. We can laud the history at the same time as deriding... What deserves to be derided. David, do better.
dru
Guest
Utterly specious. Do better David.
Trent
Guest
Hear. Hear. It's a terrible situation. Cheika is only human and he can't do 2 full time jobs justice. And in a world cup year it is massively disappointing. He can't have access to the players of 4 franchises because he is an opposition coach all year. I feel for every form rugby player who misses out on selection or game time because Cheika backs the players who he knows and who know his game plan. Train wreck on the horizon
Terry
Guest
More than any other Australian Franchise in the last four years. Is that right? How so?
Magic Sponge
Guest
It didn't paper over the cracks , this was when rugby was at its strongest in Australia. Clubs and player depth was immense and we had a forward pack due to players playing week in week out rugby for their clubs rather than being reserves and squad members and hardly playing a game of footy with the s15 franchise. This is the biggest flaw of s15 half the squad members aren't playing footy.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
The fullback has to tackle effectively every time.
dUNNO
Guest
Don't worry that wont happen the wallabies are in a real mess and its only part of it that McKenzie walks out and cheika in, To me the build uo for the wallabies re RWC2015 seems patchwork and rushed they haven't built any sort of base to work from starting with their woeful forwards . Any team prior to a world cup must be building and have some form on the board even if it is small steps. This team seems to be going backwards
niwdEyaJ
Roar Guru
David/Not Bothered, If coaching two sides (a Super XV side and national team) was such a great idea and could be achieved without compromising either side - more importantly the national team - they why do you think this hasn't been done before? Why didn't NZ give Robbie Deans the AB coaching role while he was in charge of the Cursaders during their dominant years when many of the core players of that team were also part of the AB core? Here's why: BECAUSE IT'S A BAD IDEA AND IT WON'T WORK! I'm with firstxv (above) on this matter - the Tah's have a relatively easy Super XV draw next year but I think they'll struggle to win the Aussie conference... I'm predicting the Brumbies to get on top and if the Reds get their act together, they'll also be head of the Tah's in 2015... Cheika will then start doubting himself and that's going to have a knock-on effect on the Wallabies...
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
If James O'Connor gets back, the Wallabies will look better, as he has the annoying knack (for a non-Wallaby supporter) of running straight for the try-line when given half a chance. I think the Wallabies need to forget the romance of "real rugby" and just play to win. The running and expansive game works best off a platform, not as a philosophy. Cheika and David Lord know more about union than I ever will, but I would like to see two or three of the Wallabies trained to kick field goals from any position when they are near the line. Take the points without waiting for penalties from the referee, and go back for the next kickoff. This only needs to happen 2 or 3 imes in a game to put doubt in the opposition, and that can lead to defensive errors. Folau has handled himself well and has rarely been pressured by the high ball -- hardly surprising given his AFL experience. He is simply not getting the ball often enough -- partly because the Wallabies' plays have broken down, and partly because the opponents have nullified him by starving or containing.
niwdEyaJ
Roar Guru
couldn't agree more... Folau must go out to the wing next year... Hunt is still a largely unknown quantity, but I think he could be a better option at fullback and possibly JOC also?
Squirrel
Guest
He won a s15 totle
markie362
Guest
What happens if the waratahs fall in a heap.ur putting a lot on kh.i watched him play league for years.he is not the saviour.good player tho.folau started like a champ til they worked out no positional play or kkicking.maybe a winger.in the future.so happy bout the badger.go force
JB
Guest
Lot of talk about hunt let's wait until he at least plays a few games first please before talking him up, he certainly won't help our scrum and ruck work which is the real problem
Redsfan1
Guest
Not hard to figure you are from NSW David and that you think that is the centre of the universe. Maybe if you weren't you could see how irrational it is having Cheika doing both roles.