When Michael Cheika took over the Wallaby coaching job from Ewen McKenzie at the end of last year, he was thrown in the deep end.
He had five minutes to get his end of the year tour squad he didn’t select into some semblance of unity playing rugby the Cheika way – running the ball.
The Wallbies beat Wales first up 33-20, but lost 29-26 to France, 26-23 to Ireland, and 26-17 to England.
They may have lost some games, but the Wallabies were competitive.
Eight months later, Cheika surfaced again as a far more at ease and in control Wallaby coach with wins over the Boks (24-20), the Pumas (34-9) and the All Blacks (27-19) to win the Rugby Championship undefeated.
Beating the All Blacks for the first time in four years and 10 Tests was the obvious highlight.
And the Wallabies won because Cheika was fearless.
He made the big, but obvious, call to play David Pocock and Michael Hooper together from the kick-off, and it worked a treat.
He promoted props Scott Sio and Sekope Kepu from the bench against the Pumas to replace James Slipper and Greg Holmes in the starting line-up,and that worked a treat as well.
Cheika dropped behemoth lock Will Skleton to the bench, where he was so much more effective late in the game.
And he had Kurtley Beale with Matt Toomua on the bench where both can play 10 or 12, with Beale able to play 15 as well.
Having won the Rugby Championship, the next Cheika target was the coveted Bledisloe that has been entrenched on Kiwi soil since 2003, and breaking the Eden Park drought where the Wallabies last won in 1986.
There are two accepted theories in any sport – the most important game is the next one, and if the team ‘ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
But Michael Cheika went from fearless at ANZ, to reckless at Eden Park.
He split the just proven combination of Pocock and Hooper to start with so much at stake, relegating Pocock to the bench.
Gob-smacking.
He promoted Skelton back into the starting line-up and sacked Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley as the halves, installing Nic White and Quade Cooper, and promoted Henry Speight onto the wing.
If the side ain’t broke, why so many changes?
So did Cheika treat the Bledisloe and Eden Park as the next game, or was he using it as a litmus test to provide some answers to what will be his number one side for the World Cup?
Whatever the reasons, the Wallabies were thumped 41-13, so the Bledisloe-Eden Park double drought continues for another year.
But the Cheika shocks didn’t end there.
Despite being a tower of strength during the Rugby Championship, James Horwill didn’t make the 31-man World Cup squad.
He lost out to two returnees from overseas – Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas – with Rob Smmons and Skelton winning the other two lock spots.
Horwill has had a chequered World Cup career.
He made his Walaby debut in 2007 against Fiji at Subiaco, but was a surprise omission for the World Cup, losing out to Dan Vickerman, Mark Chisholm, Nathan Sharpe and Hugh McMeniman.
In 2011, Horwill was the shock selection as World Cup captain over incumbent Rocky Elsom, and yesterday Horwill was left out again.
So too were Scott Higginbotham, Nic White, Christian Lealiifano, and the blockbusting centre from the Reds – Samu Kerevi.
More reckless selections were just two hookers – skipper Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau – with seemingly no room for James Hanson.
Only two halfbacks – Will Genia and Phipps – with White missing out.
And that’s where the biggest World Cup problem for Cheika will be – the 9-10 slots.
With Genia-Phipps and Cooper-Foley the nominated alternatives on the selection sheet, there are other possibities if push turns to shove, with Matt Giteau the pinch-hitting halfback or pivot, Matt Toomua as a 10, and Kurtley Beale as a 10 as well.
Giteau, Toomua and Beale are nominated as inside backs, which suggests Cheika still has Beale in his sights as the 12.
That would be a huge Wallaby plus, as Beale is the only one in the squad who can send Israel Folau on his dynamic way.
Folau can win the World Cup for the Wallabies, if given the time and space to create his own brand of havoc.
Kurtey Beale will be the provider.
And if Michael Cheika can see it that way it will be a fearless decision, not recklessness at all.
Mike
Guest
I have to hand it to you Peter – there are few people able to make as many fundamental errors (including simple factual mistakes) in one short post, as you have managed here. Once again, you demonstrate that you don’t know one end of a scrum from the other. “Instead there is a record of him being penalised at super and intl level time and again.” Right…. So you demand “quotes” but then make absurd statements like this with no support whatsoever? There is no such record Peter, except in so far as any prop with years of experience will pick up the occasional penalty. You are making things up, yet again. “Since the aust scrum is one of its’ strong points and stronger than it has been for a long time,” Really? And that assertion is based on, what? No serious commentator suggests that our scrum was even holding its own in this last series against the first choice pack of the Boks or the Pumas. Against the ABs in Bled 1 we looked pretty good, the only problem with that being (a) scrummaging is not one of NZ’s strong points and (b) that was a match where ABs seemed asleep in every facet of the game. In Bled 2, the NZ scrum picked up and our scrum was left looking pretty much like it always has. The one thing you can say is that our scrum has looked better in these last games than it did on the previous series, i.e. 2014 EOYT. But that is because the Australian scrum in the previous test series (2014 EOYT) was only strong when Robinson was on the field, and he has now been left out. Let’s look at 2014: * In Bled 3, the Wallabies scrums was repeatedly penalised while Skipper and Kepu were the props, yet there were no problems in the brief period when Robinson and Alexander were on. Mind you, I don’t think Alexander is a particular good scrummager, but this just drives home how out of your depth you are on this topic. * Against Wales, our scrum was hammered. Slipper and Kepu were on when the Wallabies scrum copped five continuous resets followed by a penalty try, yet no problem when Robinson and Alexander were on. * Against France, Cheika later admitted to “maybe one or two poor scrums”. That is an understatement, although not by too much. But again, none of them were when Robinson and Alexander was on. * Against Ireland we were again outclassed. There was a penalty against us after Robinson came on, but every commentator I have read blames Hanson for that. * England 2014 was the classic illustration: We were under pressure throughout, and both of England’s tries were scored from scrums in which they smashed us, with Slipper on at loosehead. And surprise, surprise, our two best scrum performances were after Robinson came on. “Cheika has been proven correct in his selections.” Quite the opposite. His failure to take the scrum seriously and his keeping Robinson on the bench was a major factor in our poor performance on EOYT 2014. He is setting himself up to do the same thing at RWC.
RobC
Roar Guru
Now youve peaked my interest. What pressure group do I belong to? I live 7,000 km away from Sydney and have no bearing on what happens. Or what happened. I have no idea what experience you have, but leaders dont 'just choose to go', especially in the middle of a mission. Leaders get ousted in many different ways. EM was no exception. If you think there was no pressure group behind KB to pitch against ARU then I think your view of the matter is poorly naive. Either that, or you assessment is blinded by some kind of affinity or bias. huh? Who's crying like a baby? Ive got more important things to worry about in life than provincial tit for tat, that many here are happy to waste their time on. My comments here serves to: - to limit expectations of Check for the next couple of years - especially those were happy to see the back of an international coach one year from RWC 2015
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well actually breakdown the last test is all that matters if you are going to put it that way.
Mike
Guest
your usual low standard of argument Peter - you demand quotes and then make a ridiculous statement like "there is s record of j
Mike
Guest
Your comment was clear, and wrong. He wasn't gotten rid of, he chose to go. And no it wasn't a pressure group - that describes you. And now you are crying like a baby because you didn't get your own way. Nor was he forced out - he lost the dressing room due to failing to put the welfare of his players first.
Mike
Guest
I wouldn't bring up anyone's posting history if I were you.
JOnathon
Guest
if you go to uncontested, does this mean you also are down to 14 men?
piru
Guest
cough, Nathan Charles.
daniel as well
Guest
I honestly can't see the issue then...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The last test he started before his 2 starts this season.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Best suits our training? What happens when after one game like 99% of wallaby training sessions, 1 or more players are unable to train due to minor injury or illness. Throws a spanner in the whole thing.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
And considerably smaller players
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Half time was just the pause, it wouldn't have mattered if Cooper stayed on, it was coming.
Internal Fixation
Guest
One might say that being one hooker down might make for a "feckless" moment....
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
We agree. You will see PeterK tried to tell me otherwise, with his:
to which I responded:Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Objective criticism supported with facts isn't "dissent" if it was things would never change and there would be no innovation in the world. Most of your defence for poor decisions in the squad are on the basis of "gotta get behind the boys". Hardly inspiring stuff. It's the wallabies obligation to interest me. I am not obligated to support them. I happily supported the Reds through the mediocrity of the 2000's because I felt they were trying and doing the best they could with what they had. It doesn't make me a bad supporter just because I don't blindly support poor decisions.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Mick I doubt he was. He never debuted until 2013 so I would find it very odd if he was one of the highest paid players 2008-2013.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not really. They'd just base their opinion on what they have seen.
Magpie
Roar Rookie
I believe Cheika has taken unnecessary risk. I see 2 main weaknesses at the moment , the lineout and goalkicking. I would have chosen White for the extra things he brings , long range goalkicking which could be invaluable in tight matches at the cup. I hope he chooses 3 jumping options in the lineout , 2 as at Eden Park is too easy to defend against. England and Wales will just kick to the corners at then pressure our lineout. The team is chosen , I don't necessarily agree with some of the selections but good luck Wallabies , fight to the end and Australia will be supporting you.
Breakdown
Guest
any player can replace anyone.. so yes McMahon could be replaced by Hansen