Michael Cheika has been recognised for his rapid transformation of the Wallabies, being named the World Rugby Coach of the Year at an awards dinner in London.
Cheika took over the Wallabies’ reins less than a year out from the World Cup, on the eve of the team’s 2014 Spring Tour, which they finished with one win from four matches.
Splitting the role with the NSW Waratahs head coaching job during the Super Rugby season, Cheika worked to build a strong team mentality with regular player briefings during the season.
Cheika then led the Wallabies to their first Rugby Championship win since 2011, which included a victory over New Zealand in Sydney.
In 2015 Cheika has taken the Wallabies to 10 Test wins from 12 matches, including a challenging run to the World Cup final.
It’s an achievement that Cheika has said was not even on his radar when he was offered the job last year, but one he believed he could help work towards.
In that run, the Wallabies had to face six of the world’s top 10 teams, three of those before even making it out of the pool stages.
As well as pure match results, Cheika influenced the change of eligibility laws this year, bringing France-based players Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell back into the fold as well as allowing Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas to join the World Cup squad after signing with Super Rugby franchises for 2016.
Cheika’s charges have been vocal in their praise of him through the tournament, with vice-captain Michael Hooper saying it was impossible not to buy into his passion for the national team, despite having never donned a Wallabies jersey.
The World Rugby Coach of the Year award is further recognition of his success as a mentor, in a career that has seen him become the only coach to win top domestic awards in both the southern and northern hemisphere.
Signed as Wallabies Head Coach until at least 2017, the national job will be Cheika’s sole focus in 2016 and beyond.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
My point is, that the national coach is not all that separates Aus and NZ in quality at international level.
The Battered Slav
Guest
yeeea bruzz we smashed youzzz ABs da bestest eva looserzz
Shrink
Guest
TWAS - in coaching Aus - there are very few men on the planet that could generate heart, lead, and inspire the Aus team to lofty heights, and in that regard, Cheika stands head and shoulders over all others.
AlohaRugby
Guest
Isn't there something to be said for the fact that Ewen lost both Moore and Pocock whereas Chieka had them both fit and available? He chose not to play Pocock. He dropped him from the captaincy and even vice captaincy. Pocock was seen as less important to the team than Hooper and even Skelton. Eventually Chieka worked it out. Pocock is the best player in the world and Chieka managed to find a place for him. Chieka was also responsible for drafting in Mumm from Exeter. He left out Horwill, Jones, etc who were in form and had played the kiwi locks all year. Mumm's errors in defence and attack cost us dearly. Chieka certainly got the most out of players like Douglas, Foley and Beale. Beale just got better with every game in the RWC. Chieka also returned Genia to some kind of form. And finally, the resolve of the WBs in defence was exceptional. It was a credit to the team and to the game of rugby. Mind you, Hansen had a pretty good year too.
Shrink
Guest
TWAS – “If you swapped coaches would you back Hanson to win with the Wallabies?” Hansen would not swap, but this I can say with degree of confidence. Hansen would have a different selection of players at hand, a couple of players would be placed in their rightful positions, and he would also have a different game plan, with the ability to change. But there is time enough for that to happen.
Shrink
Guest
My comment was in reference to your “Nothing against Hansen, but inheriting the RWC winning team and taking it to win a RWC with many of the same leaders isn’t exactly Disney movie stuff.” And “But how impressive is it to do the same as your predecessor did? “ My point related to all coaches had an equal opportunity to formulae a strategy in the months prior to the RWC, harness their resources, make selections according to that strategy, and apply the strategy during the RWC tournament. Hansen implemented his strategy and delivered a game plan, hidden in public view, until glaringly obvious in the final – ultimately out-coaching his opponent. He did this by using only 8 members from his predecessor’s team (2011) and delivered a game plan which contrasted greatly from his predecessor’s style of play. Cheika is a good coach and a great bloke but at the moment he is a novice on the world stage. As he continually says “we will learn” and I believe him. This tells me Cheika also is aware of the errors he makes, which is a good trait to have and will go a long way to making him a fast learner. One day he could become a great coach. Now if only SA would appoint a good coach
dsat24
Guest
While I think Hansen's record and claim to this is admirable :) if its for over achieving surely Eddie Jones or Verne Cotter trump on this criteria? By contrast whos arguing with Lancaster for the under achieving award?
Jacko
Guest
Every WC year previously the winner has gone to the coach of the World cup winning team so why was this year different?
Piripiri
Guest
Hansen v Cheka in 2015 2-1 + Hansen 2015 RWC winning coach back to back + Hansen emphatic 2015 Bledisloe cup winner = Cheka world rugby coach of the year??? = JOKE!!! It's not like Aus had never won the RC/Tri nations before or had never beaten the ABs before! Furthermore, RC was a shortened comp where Aus were lucky to have 2 home games against the 2 toughest opposition...Auckland and RWC kind of puts chekas RC 'achievement' into perspective! Cheka 2015 'success' due to a fit pocock and a crap call by Joubert!
Nobody
Guest
Congrats Cheika, awesome work after taking over a team in disarray only 12 months ago! I don't know what all the fuss is about Hansen tbh, he won it for the last three years straight after all. We (NZ) won the RWC, but does that really mean we have to scoop ALL the awards this year??
Muz
Guest
It's just an opinion eagle jack.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I can't believe Nonu wasn't nominated. I thought he was a stand out candidate.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Shrink, to say he was outcoached implies that Hanson and Cheika had equal resources available, and one just used his better. Since Hanson has been coaching the most successful Super Rugby coach in history, and one of Australia's most successful Super Rugby coaches have failed to match Hanson with similar resources. Just maybe Hanson has better resources at his disposal. If you swapped coaches would you back Hanson to win with the Wallabies?
shrink
Roar Rookie
Tis a little weird alright, but apparently it was due to his two club titles (one each in both hemisheres) and for being a mentor to Aus rugby players from their self-inflicted wounds from the previous messiah Ewen. So a clap on the back for club/franchise rugby which is a good effort but certainly not in the 2015 framework. And as a mentor - more like a domestic achievement as all coaches mentor their players - some would say Hansen rules the roost in this department. So its a little of an odd one - no wonder Cheika was surprised to receive it. But for two titles - I'll take my hat off to him. As you correctly point out - lifting Aus from 3rd in the world to 2nd is nothing to write home about.
Riccardo
Guest
You just can't take these awards too seriorusly. Jerome Kaino misses out to Dusautoir in 2011. Nonu probably should have got the best player gong this year and couldn't even get nominated. But both Cheika and Carter remain worthy recipients. Move on...
Rouaan
Guest
Cheika deserves this accolade. Now it is about even raising the bar in terms of the Wallabies going forward, almost every team will improve, so Cheika has his work cut out.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Geez I've seen more stuff.co.nz posts this week than Ive seen in my lifetime. A publication I can gather is Fairfax's equivalent to the Daily Mail - absolute trash. Not the source I'd be producing to prove a point. Kinda like an Aussie citing News' Courier Mail.
Muz
Guest
Hansen snub disgraceful http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/73596146/Duncan-Johnstone-Snubbing-of-All-Blacks-coach-Steve-Hansen-at-World-Rugby-awards-is-a-disgrace Spot on.
jemainok
Guest
Staying ahead of the pack and trends is not in easy feat in these days and times.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Congrats to Cheik on the award, well deserved although Hourcade and Hansen would have also been worthy winners.