Michael Cheika’s call for Liam Gill to stay with Australian rugby has been picking up momentum over the past few days, with the Reds weighing in on the conversation.
Wallabies coach Cheika challenged Gill to take the role of David Pocock, telling him there is an opportunity to make it back to the green and gold. Gill hasn’t played for Australia since 2013.
Gill announced in February that he would leave Australia to pursue playing in French rugby in 2017.
“That’s the part I don’t think anyone has thought about too much. There are players there who will get that opportunity in his absence, and get the taste for his Australian jersey and his Brumbies jersey when he is away.”
“I will be calling Liam Gill and trying to get him to change his mind,” Cheika told the Daily Telegraph.
“He made a decision, I know, but it is not going to hurt me to spend the money to get on the phone, or better still go up and see him, and say: “You have got to stay. Here is an opportunity for you.”
“Even this year I believe he will get some time. He hasn’t started the season on the field because he’s been a bit injured, but he is a class player. That keeps everyone on their toes.”
Cheika’s comments come in the wake of David Pocock’s decision to take a break from Australian rugby in 2017, leaving the door open for a backrower to take his spot. Gill was often seen as one of the premier on-ball flankers in Australia. He plays a similar role as Pocock, and could fit into Cheika’s preferred structure from the 2015 Rugby World Cup, depending on the performances of players like Sean McMahon and Michael Hooper.
Yesterday, Reds co-coach Michael O’Connor told the media he would be interesting in exploring the idea, but didn’t put any pressure on Gill to change his mind.
“He’s a quality player,” O’Connor said.
“We’ve missed his presence around the ball over the last couple of rounds, so if there is an opportunity for that to happen we will have to wait and see.
“But at this stage he has made his intentions pretty clear that he wants a break from Australian rugby and we will have to have that conversation down the road.”
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
pete and paul , Liam Gill is probably the Matt Todd of NZ but given the same forward pack might even, imo be a better player than Todd
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
I think is is more about the game plan that Michael Cheika wants his charges to play... take for example Will Skelton... MC love the guy but seriously how much of a threat has he really been in the international arena? ... Liam Gill is a extremely good rugby player and a nice guy to boot. The Reds with miss him even if the Wallabies will not.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
I have commented on other threads that I believe that Australia is about to lose an outstanding player , one who I thought might be a future Wallaby captain. After his exploits for the U20's in South Africa where he captained the team Liam Gill has struggle to hold a place in the Wallaby squad. It is not that he is an 'inferior player' .. He is not. The Wallabies might not want him or believe that he is that far down the pecking order, but cashed up clubs in UK and Europe will value him higher. He didn't fit in MacKenzie's team and he didn't fit into Cheika's plan's before Poey takes his year off and there is no guarantees he will even when David Pocock follows his academic dreams. Of course Michael Cheika's wants him to stay but why would he? Michael Cheika will not, cannot guarantee him anything but overseas clubs value Gill's services and are willing to pay. That IS guaranteed and give certainty. Take Taqele Naiyaravoro the Fijian who played one test for the Wallabies against USA on the way to the RWC. My understanding (I might be wrong and stand corrected if so) is that now he is ineligible to play for his native country due to the one match excursion. Will Naiyaravoro ever play another test for the Wallabies...he cannot play for another country now is my understanding. Is he on contract to the ARU even. If not then Michael Cheika might have handed him 'the rough end of the pineapple', I feel that Liam Gill need to look after he own interests because I am not sure that Michael Cheika will.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
I thought he was just planning his squad on the chance that there's an injury to Hooper.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Hey Ray, He can select whoever he likes. But he should be aware of the consequences of that.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Who said we wouldn't get out of the pool? We had to defeat and England team which had actually won about 50% of their tests leading in and a Wales team that we had defeated in 10 consecutive tests. What logical reason was their to suggest that we shouldn't make it out of the pool? That a team who had not defeated us for 6 years was a huge threat, or a team that we had lost to away the last 2 teams was unbeatable with their dismal form leading in?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I don't agree he has stuffed up. Gill is a good player but he doesn't have Pocock's breakdown dominance or the attacking prowess and hard hitting of McMahon and Hooper.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Not sure that's Cheika's fault. In fact I don't think a Cheika has coached 20 tests yet.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for the update guys. Will be interesting which 7 Reds will field next year: - Gill? SeanMc? - Would like to see Higgs back at 6 / 8 with Tui. Lolo F as understudy - QC back at 10. JOC at 11
RobC
Roar Guru
pjm, the 1-2 channel that Hoops run is the "12" channel, like yesterday. Well except at 40' when he kicked chased from the wing. or at 65' when he received the pill at halfback from the LO. Just like good-ole Tim Horan
Bakkies
Guest
Cooper rarely starts for Toulon due to the fact is that he isn't playing well enough. Even at Toulon due to your status you have to earn the shirt. John Smit while Bok captain at hooker couldn't get a start ahead of Ledesma while at Clermont. Ledesma was due to retire sooner. It's a good thing. Jean de Villiers played games for Munster A. You don't want muppets like Marshall and Jack who think they are in for an easy ride. Stuart Lancaster put the boot in to Marshall's attitude at Leeds and said he didn't fit in due to that despite his ability.
Mel R
Roar Rookie
Bon Voyage Gillsy, do'nt look back unless they buy out your contract with change to spare and insurance for bench warming.Liam Gill such a class act wasted.....very sad.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
In which game did the ABs put out a second XV? If anything it was the Wallabies making wholesale changes during the RC. Cheika has been in charge for one year. And done bloody well. He failed at the RWC falling at the last hurdle. But very few thought we'd make the final so I look at it as a successful tournament, a nice platform to setup from going forward.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The Walkabies haven't been a force since Kefu retirement ?? What a very odd things to say. Since that time the Wallas have been ranked in the top 3 for the most part and played in two World Cup Finals.
Morsie
Guest
Is that the same Cheika who coached us to the WC final when we weren't meant to get out of the pool, or are you talking about someone else?
Morsie
Guest
Jumpers can also lift, forwards aren't THAT dumb and one dimensional ffs.
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
I agree TWAS it is the same in NZ when players are considered in the mix but at 3 or 4 in the pecking order who would blame them for chasing the quid of euro...
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
yep he will be off to earn his pension...Cheika has stuffed up yet again
RubberLegs
Guest
My impression is that Toulon have so many top level players Gill will spend a fair amount of time on the bench; Cooper rarely starts for Toulon.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Not in RWC years when the All Blacks are putting out almost second XVs.