Success for the Wallabies in the World Cup final at Twickenham against the All Blacks will see Michael Cheika set three new international rugby milestones.
He will become the first to coach his country to a record third World Cup, ahead of the All Blacks and Springboks (two each), and England (one).
He will become a World Cup-winning coach in the fewest number of internationals at the helm, after just 16 Tests.
After 21 Tests – Kitch Christie for South Africa in 1995. South Africa missed the 1987 and 1991 World Cups while in sporting isolation over apartheid.
After 28 Tests – Brian Lochore for the All Blacks, winning the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.
After 30 Tests – Rod Macqueen, when the Wallabies won the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
After 31 Tests – Bobby Dwyer in the Wallabies’ 1991 success.
After 46 Tests – Clive Woodward for England in 2003.
After 53 Tests – Jake White for South Africa in 2007.
And after 103 Tests – Graham Henry, when the All Blacks won in 2011.
The icing on the cake?
A win on Sunday, and the Wallabies will be officially ranked world number one for the very first time.
The 1987 All Blacks, 1991 Wallabies, 1995 Springboks, and the 1999 Wallabies were unofficially ranked number one after winning their respective Rugby World Cups. But the official world rankings only started after the 2003 Rugby World Cup, with the champions England ranked one, Wallabies two, All Blacks three, and France four – the order they finished the tournament.
The All Blacks have totally dominated the top ranking since November 2009. In fact, the men in black have controlled 86 per cent of the number one ranking since 2003.
Only England in 2003 to 2004, and the Springboks from 2007 to early 2009, have put a slight dent in the All Blacks’ rankings armour.
But a win on Sunday will see the Wallabies take over for the first time after fairly long periods as world number two during 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and currently.
So there’s a lot at stake come Sunday.
And it’s been made possible by the coaching skills of Cheika.
Birdy
Guest
Hopalong, I realised after I posted that yours was a general comment. Should have realised straight away when you mentioned Joubert. Too many replacements for the WAllabies but even so the ABs are just too well drilled . More bad news for Aussie sport with Hayne being dumped by San Francisco .
Paulie
Guest
Sorry bro you where WRONG!
P2R2
Roar Rookie
Oh Lordy Lordy LORD...on the brink was he....ummmm...the ABs prevail and win back-to-back and put the sword to those yapping Aussies....wooooohooooo!!!! NZ WORLD CHAMPIONS - ... BUT.... well done WBs they played as good as they could...2 good tries...but as Moore said....we were not good enough....
Piripiri
Guest
No it is you who should be embarrassed!!! You can't even win with home advantage!! Rather loose awa than at home any day!..SHAME
Paulie
Guest
The Darkness shall prefail!
taylorman
Roar Guru
Sorry, wrong johnny boy. Lomu was and still is greater outside NZ than in it. He was picked up internationally as a global sports personality outside rugby and was huge in the UK. As big as he was here, it was nothing as big as overseas.
hopalong
Guest
Hi Birdy.It was truly a general comment and not directed at you or at any other individual. I do not know where in my post it was possible to draw your inference.Thought in the main that I complimented both teams.Was it the Joubert reference?Or the "damning with faint praise" wording.? Or the recommendation of a dram or 6 after the game? Anyway,not going to get all huffy and sensitive. I believe that the"rest" of the rugby world will be treated to a great final. Good luck to both teams.I am a neutral here.
Simon
Guest
You just kept mentioning back to back... Yep wallabiea are the form team, the way the blacks were crying and carrying on after the game with the Boks I don't think they have it in them
Scott
Guest
Yes I tend to agree. A bridge too far for Australia at the moment unfortunately
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
I thought South Africa was 5th in 2003, and has never been seeded lower (and equalled this after Japan!! Lol)
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
?????? Posted above then just saw these comments. David that is so random. You may as well add Deans & Mackenzie then since the 2011 WC... or for that matter every Wallaby coach since 1999.....
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
David you are wrong about Kitch Kristie. He has 100% winning record in 1994-1995. 14 tests and 14 wins. The 1995 RWC final win was his 11th Test match match win. Quicker than if Cheika was to win. Remarkable record, they beat everyone! Truly remarkable team that 94-95 team.
Birdy
Guest
Hopalong, I think it's my post you are referring to , so just for you I will learn how to do smiley faces from now on. By the way , there is no such thing as a sporting contest between Australia and New Zealand , it's WAR.( smiley face)
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Mate nothing short of a very good performance by the Wallabies will be enough. Come on Wallabies !!!
Council
Guest
And this is the kind of post the Roar doesn't want or need. Keep the banter, but dont take childish inflammatory pokes.
Birdy
Guest
Hi worlds biggest, I don't pretend to be an authority on RU, but if I were Cheika I would be very happy with where the wallabies are at this stage compared to the train wreck of 12 months ago. The only thing he would be worried about now is little mistakes but as he says it's the style he has chosen to play. Lazy cover defence worries me I havnt watched that many games but the ones I've watched they seem vulnerable in that area. Cheika would be well aware of who he is playing but would be more concerned with his own teams performance or progress over the last few months. He will have them peaking physically and mentally for kick off. Go Wallabies....... Good to see NH teams eliminated early. Don't watch to see goal kicks.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Yeah great defence... 33 missed tackles, 25 missed tackles yea !!
hopalong
Guest
Refreshed my memory on the meaning of "dotage" Mercifully,this is not a repeat post. 2 good teams will contest a great final,of what remains"only a game". May the best team win.I would say this with less conviction had we beaten AB,s in semis. I find it hard to believe that some posters of these two great sporting nations still bitch about Jouberts error. At the end,hopefully, there will be a shaking of hands by the players. And no triumphalism,gushing or damning with faint praise from the winners. Which, I hope,will be the game of rugby. Whatever the result,my experience is that reflecting on the game with a good whiskey,is to be recommended. Drinking it in celebration or as consolation. So "GO RUGBY"
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I was responding to Aussie Birdy by the way !
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Hope your right there mate !