Australia coach Michael Cheika has dismissed stinging criticism of the Wallabies’ props from former England supremo Clive Woodward.
The 2003 World Cup-winning coach said this week in the UK media that Cheika’s side have no chance of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for a third time, citing a lack of top quality front-rowers as the team’s biggest problem.
Australia must beat England and Wales to have any realistic chance of topping Pool A and booking a quarter-final spot in a group that also contains Fiji and Uruguay.
Woodward said memories of their struggles at Twickenham last year when England forwards dominated in a 26-17 victory will still be fresh in the minds of the hosts when the two sides meet on October 3.
But Cheika said he’s happy to let other teams think what they want about his side.
“From a perception point of view I know what I am working on and thinking,” Cheika said in Bath, where the team will be based for the next 10 days ahead of their opening clash with Fiji in Cardiff next Wednesday.
“I think Clive Woodward said there were four or five club rugby props that would make the Australian team before our props so I think the perception is still there (about us).
“But it’s up to the opponents to think they can push us around but let’s see if they can do it on game day.”
So concerned was Cheika about his pack after last year’s disastrous Spring tour where the team lost to France, England and Ireland he added legendary former Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma to his coaching staff.
The 84-capped Puma is a veteran of four World Cups and Cheika believes the improved showing of his forwards in recent wins against the All Blacks and Argentina is a sign of his influence.
“He’s been very good from a philosophical point of view and what we want our scrum to be like and also our set pieces and driving mauls as well,” Cheika said.
“We acknowledge we needed to improve. It’s our consistency more than anything and we’ve been working hard on that.
“But now we need to show that the fruits of our labour are borne out on the field.”
Cheika also believes the presence of 1999 World Cup winners Nathan Grey and Stephen Larkham on the coaching staff adds to a positive mentality he’s building among the 31-man squad.
“Self-belief is very important but that is not borne out of what’s happened in `91 and `99,” he said.
“The fact we have two coaches that were there in `99 helps from an experience point of view, even though it’s a very different tournament now.
“It adds something from a mental side of things … how you deal with things on a game to game basis, what the feelings are like and you just draw on a bit of that.”
soapit
Guest
no worries, i could tell it was a genuine mistake and not an attempt to offend. not really resigned, but pretty open minded about what might happen. looking forward to the rugby itself mainly (not just our games) and if oz win then i'll be pumped but theres going to be a lot of twists and turns for us and our pool mates so im just gonna see how it all turns out. not fazed about going out at the pools rather than say the quarters or semi, tough games and someones gotta go. spose it would be good to have someone to cheer hard for in the later stages.
Machooka
Roar Guru
@ soapit Humble apologies for tarring you with a black brush. :) Ummm.. you sound, in your comments, just a tad resigned. Pick yourself up buddy ! The show is about to start. Maybe a quick visit to the Doctor for a pulse thingy check, eh ?
soapit
Guest
nope aussie. a lot has to go right for us to win and t know theres a fair chance a bounce of the ball could see us go out at the pool stage. nothing i can do about it and its just sport will likely all change come kick off tho
whydoncha
Guest
Ah it's all part of the fun and games. No offence taken. Is it Woodward or Woodwool? Woodwool was something we used to pack pineapples in and cover them with, to shield them and to keep them in the dark and away from the bright sunlight.
PeterK
Roar Guru
that is the whole point to sway refs
Drak
Guest
Clive Woodward. I remember that name. Didn't coach England to a 0-76 loss against the Wallabies?
Council
Guest
Hey Birds, yeah I find comments like woodwards and williams just plain boring. I know Woodward has to say controversial things, but all these type comments are droll. With the Hakarena, haven't seen it, but its all in lighthearted jest I reckon. It did get some expected reactions but those people tend to be in the mionority.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Nope... any supporter of a team in Pool A has been on edge for some time. Kiwi perchance @ soapit ?
soapit
Guest
as a fan if ur tense this far out from the games perhaps ur thinking about it too much.
linz22
Guest
I hope they keep underestimating him. I think he is on the brink of being the number one player in the world and am just hoping like hell that he stays injury free. This turnover is a thing of beauty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fqBnXLVlW0
Birdy
Guest
One thing I do love about Clive, Machooka, is that he's positively 'Antipodean' in his attitudes. I think people down your neck of the woods first 'fell in love' with him when he responded to the 'boring England' etc etc barbs when he was coach, not by being defensive, but by making it as clear as he possibly could that he couldn't give a rat's wobbly bits whether the SH 'respected' the England team or not. Didn't make him very popular with the Aussie and Kiwi press and fans, but gave the team an edge and an aura that you often see in RWC winners. I have to say I'm beginning to prefer this approach to Lancaster's much nicer 'all hands together and sing Kumbaya' tone. I'd have more confidence in England doing well in this RWC if one of their players and/or management had the confidence to say to their detractors, "if you don't like it you can kiss my fragrant, hairy, pommie..............."
dan in devon
Guest
I see the English Telegraph newspaper have rated David Pocock as the 27th best player in the world!
Birdy
Guest
Any supporter of a team in Pool A who isn't tense, TM, hasn't thought about it enough.
Jerry
Guest
It's not a deep insult to our culture, but it is really lame. It's an unoriginal joke told badly.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah saw the hakarena thing. Predictable and as usual it just looks awkward, but at least it's meant to be funny. Good timing as well while the 'waiting' tension is in the air...I mean pool A seems to be playing out right here on the ROAR there's so much bite around. Good to see...
Birdy
Guest
'Birdy's take', Council, is that Woodward is doing what he always does, and what he is now paid to do by various media outlets, which is telling you what he thinks about rugby matters. If you'd asked me the same question in the EOYT, I'd have given a similar answer to Woodward. For me, the jury is out at the moment because in the RC the WB pack had a number of good scrums, along with a number of not so good. Woodward hasn't changed his opinion (may not of even watched the RC). I'll hold back on either saying the WBs still have the same problems or the scrum is sorted until after the Twickenham game against England. He's been harsher about some of England's selections, though, and nearly burst a blood vessel when England didn't take the 3 points in one of the warm-up games. Don't particularly like him as a pundit, but there you go. Still have him ahead of Kearns and 'Marto'. Haven't seen the 'Hakarena' video. From what I've heard it's a light-hearted bit of fun by a clothing company. Incredibly, even a significant number of Kiwis seem to be taking it in that spirit. I suspect there'll be a fair bit of 'it's a deep insult to our 'culture' from the Pommy colonialists' as well, though.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
it is the lineout that worries me
Phantom
Roar Rookie
is cheika even the best coach in Australia
m0b1us
Guest
No one in the UK gives a feck what CW says either so don't get too worried about it. Aussie scrum does look a lot better. Angles are a lot better, height is better, co-ordination is heaps better. You also seem to be trying to drive straight as well which makes a nice change. You still got toweled up by the Argies though so I'll reserve judgement.
Council
Guest
Be interestin to see Birdys take. And the piss take Hakarena video doing the rounds at the moment.