It may be a World Cup year but Wallabies coach Michael Cheika insists he won’t be wrapping Michael Hooper in cotton wool as the NSW Waratahs face a ferocious breakdown battle with the Highlanders on Saturday.
Cheika, who guides both NSW and Australia, would be forgiven for shielding one of his prized possessions in Hooper from a gruelling Super Rugby season with one eye on the impending World Cup.
But while he admits the global showpiece is always at the back of his mind, he says he’ll be doing no such thing with Hooper.
“If you close your eyes to what’s going on after the Super Rugby season, you’re being naive whether you’re in my situation or anyone else’s situation because it’s in the player’s mind regardless,” Cheika said before the Waratahs flew out for Dunedin on Thursday.
“You’ve got to get a year-long plan for the guy (Hooper) and make sure you extract the best of him while he’s at his Super Rugby team and he’s still got plenty to give when he goes to the Australian team as well.
“You’ve got to take advantage of knowing exactly what’s in front of you, prepare yourself accordingly and just go for it.
“Protecting is not a good thing. You’ve got to expose yourself to the work load and make sure you’re ready.”
NSW travel to Dunedin not looking as convincing as the side who gave the Highlanders a six-try masterclass in Sydney to secure the minor premiership last time the two teams met.
In the Highlanders, they face a side boasting the likes of Aaron Smith, the pacey All Blacks No.9 who was key in their 20-17 victory over competition favourites the Chiefs last week.
The Waratahs have won two of their three matches but it’s the breakdown where the titleholders expected to be attacked.
Cheika says halfback Nick Phipps will be prepared.
“They love attacking the ball in the breakdown. Everyone’s had a good crack at us this year in that area, so Nick Phipps will have his suit of armour on so hopefully he’ll be able to survive the raids,” he said.
“They’ve got a lot of X-factor and they’re a very hard working outfit in the pack.
“So we’ve got to make sure our defence is not deceived by the illusion of width that they have, because they have players all over the park.
“But also be balanced so that if they do get the ball in the wide zones we’re there to make the attack.”
Mke
Guest
"What is your theory on their flat performance in the semi…" That's easy. (a) they had played a gruelling game against South Africa in the quarter final where they spent much of it defending in their own 22, and (b) they played about to their usual standard against the All Blacks in the semis. But you may have a point - the All Blacks may not have been capable of winning a tri-nations and an RWC in the same year. But then, South Africa far more obviously rested players during 3N and it didn't help them, so then where is the theory?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Aside from the dripping sarcasm, if you think the W's turned up to that semi final as well prepared as they could be then something went terribly wrong between the side that won the tri nations and looked, flat, out of form and frankly disinterested. They were outplayed in every department and the easy win and score flattered them. My theory is that the W's were overplayed in 2011. What is your theory on their flat performance in the semi...pretty sure we both saw the same game. On the other side of the draw the ABs were singled out as managing their resources well. Not sending the key players to SA for the Port Elizabeth test so they could give last chance injury returns to players like Dagg, who, as a result played one of his finest matches against oz in that semi final. So no I haven't done any extra research eagle, and I don't believe such papers exist. But I throw it back to you. Why do you think oz looked so 'flat' in that semi?
eagleJack
Roar Guru
You could also make a similar case for keeping players match fit/hardened. No doubt player workload can be very high in the modern game. It certainly is a juggling act with prep and recovery more important than ever.
Not Bothered
Guest
Yes there is evidence that restong players helps but it doesnt mean your team is going to win.
Not Bothered
Guest
A f-ing haircut? How about we talk about rugby rather than your opinion of a blokes hair.
Richard Islip
Roar Rookie
And that is precisely what Cheika did to Hooper last year. He played him into the ground during Super rugby. No player can handle that workload any more, especially a wind up dynamo like Hooper. And by the end of the year, Hooper was totally shot on the Wallabies tour in comparison to his usual play, thanks to Cheika. Many questions were asked on " the Roar "......." has Hooper lost his impact? " etc..........the reason is Cheika. A huge part of coaching at this level , for some time, has been the management of players, especially key players. The plethora of injuries and burnout is testament to the fact that this is an area that is bottom of a coach's list generally. The coach still seems to think a player has to " tough it out", that the player can recover and play to his best for 45 weeks of the year, despite the numerous car crash impacts of each game, not to worry about the mental strain of gearing up for this combat each and every week.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Is there any hard evidence that resting players benefits the National team in the long run? I mean the ABs won the 2011 RWC, so that's a big tick. But they also got bundled out in the QF's in 2007 after resting a large number of players during Super 14. And as pointed out above it definitely didn't help the Boks in 2011. Even against a Wallabies outfit that supposedly overworked their squad. Interested to get your thoughts taylorman, as Cheika clearly has not read in depth the same research papers you have. I'm not saying you are necessarily wrong, but your strong opinion that Cheika hasn't learnt from previous efforts, implies you have in-depth knowledge on the matter.
jutsie
Guest
moore was a big loss because TPN hadnt played a game for a number of months prior the ireland game. beale was carrying a hamstring injury throughout the tournament too. mitchell was rushed back in after a broken ankle and then buggered his hammy in his first game. TBH i think that was the bigger issue the number of half fit rusty players included in the squad. palu, mitchell, barnes, TPN all had not played for a number of months.
Franky
Guest
agree i dont think he is top 3 openside right now. Get a haircut
Combesy
Roar Guru
pot kettle, mate!!!
Phil
Guest
Cooper only got injured in the playoff for 3rd,although his pride may have been hurt before by those nasty Kiwi fans!
long
Guest
...and Australia beat RSA.
Jerry
Guest
Falling like flies? I can only recall Pocock (who only missed a game or two and was fit by the playoffs) and Cooper as significant issues.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I guess learning from previous efforts isn't a Cheika trait then? In 2011 while both SA and NZ both rested players in the SXV and Tri nations good old Queensland and the Wallabies kept playing their best sides right through to the end. Then by the end of the World Cup players were falling like flies. It's not about age, it's about pacing the player so they're still at peak for a potential World Cup Final. Injuries to dig by Ioane,, Stephen Moore and Quade Cooper...can't recall the others derailed the oz side during the tournament as well as the W's being very flat, burnt out from being overplayed. Cheika seems to get away with all these concessions...dual coaching, overplaying key players, but man has this the potential to see it all come crashing down on it all.
Bob
Guest
Or don't....there are benefits and drawbacks to each approach.
grapeseed
Guest
Hey! I'm not old!
pjm
Roar Rookie
Talk about a bunch of whinging old men in the comments section.
Combesy
Roar Guru
He's 23 ! What a BS story
Brett McKay
Expert
Leave me out of your ramblings, thanks..
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Come on, people at The Roar, fix that headline. Now.