Staring down a whitewash, Cheika says he's "enjoyed the series" against England

Yeah...certainly was odd wasn't it. I mean waaaaat?

Understand your point but I don't take anything Cheika says in public as a sign of anything. He's been around and if anything he's just struggling to get 15 players out on the field that can play good rugby. Only a couple did last week do I think it's a bit rich blaming a coach when so many are off individually.

Not so sure about that Tman, not only have the Oz players been poor so has the coaching including team selection and tactics, ... not sure both can improve in a week, maybe one but not both.. and the Red Rose have the correct attitude whereas cheika doesn't and most of his players don't. example the comment above attributed to him "People like to see the wallabies down" who exactly ? that is a real weak 'poor me' statement playing the victim like a child in a playground - when he is predominantly the cause, not the victim. The trend at the beginning of the series was fans people wanting to see Oz win as representatives of the Southern Hemisphere... and for a so called full time professional coach and team cheika and friends have let us down.

Yep so am I, I just don't like this almost universal dismissal of Wales. I k ow the team won't be, but matches like these can have a knack of jumping up on you. And who predicted the complete thrashing the Lions gave the W's in test 3?. Sure it wasn't Wales but it was Gatland, and he's no mug. He's been in this situation many times. These new players haven't.

Geeeez T/man, I do hope that you are wrong, on that Wales, selection Mate, I do think Hansen, is still at the trial & error stage, with trying to find stable combinations etc. I think that Dixon will just show how good he is, especially in front of his home crowd. Even the likes of Moala, who I did feel was unlucky, not to make the first selection squad, as he was looking as though he was just starting to show some of his best form. So he's there now, & warranted. Well we'll both find out in a few hours, mate, so then we'll be able to assess on how they all went. Totally looking forward to it.

Cheers Muzzo, for other reasons I've a sneaky feeling Wales may snatch this one tonight. 11 replacements isn't the best way to show respect to a well seasoned professional side and Gatland will apply every trick in the book to expose the newer players. Even though I agree with and admire Hansens selection approach, he can't win these types of risk selections every time. If the little elements conspire against us...the luck, the desperation and inspired performance of the Welsh, injury, penalties/ cards, the lack of performance from some if the newbies etc. Right about now Gatland will be feeding his players the absolute disrespect of his side by hansens selection...I sure would be. So although many are focussing on the expected performance of Elliot, Squire, Moala etc...perhaps we need to focus on the Welsh allowing these guys to perform a bit more. I expect a close one anyway, but oz/ Wales wins won't surprise.

We all live in hope, a bit like this week .

Good points T/man, & I agree. Also apart, from this one, I'm looking forward, to seeing Elliot Dixon, running out at the Barr. Cheers

I understand ... as charlie sheen would say :)

Yea a curious position for a coach to justify not winning or losing by saying he can find enjoyment in it ... a masochist perhaps ... ...

After a cursory review of this article, the Wallaby coach reiterated he still enjoyed the battle against England and is relishing the prospect of a third tussle. This is very much a double edged sword. The only folk to enjoyed the first two tests were the skeptics, not the true Wallaby rugby fan base. Further, been defeated by a team you believed to be inferior is no endorsement for the word “enjoyed”. Tinkering with the team has merit but replacing Kerevi with Toomua, who most believe played well in Melb, is a big call. Playing dull rugby is one of England’s strengths; they have always played this upfront physical contest, with limited excitement and tedious ball skills. We require a plan B in Sydney and I’m not that confident Will S can provide that. Good Luck.

I just cant believe how inept Chieka has been in this series. It would appear to me that the Wallabies have been more than capable of winning this series, as they have performed very well for short periods ot time but just cant seem to maintain it over 20 mins let alone 80. It shouldnt be a fitness thing as super rugby is a fast paced game so what is the problem then? It comes down to tactics, preparation and belief and I dont think Chieka has got any of those right. He seems more interested in naming squads when its time to name teams, playing the victim in the press when perhaps attack was a better option and he keeps saying that running rugby is what the fans want to see but just doesnt have the cattle to do this successfully. England have been very good defensively but have been gifted 2 try's by wallaby bumbling in their own 22 and the "go for the try" attitude V's "take the points" has really come back to bite Aus hard. ( Ive watched the ABs take the points over many years and very rarely regret doing so ) Im pretty sure the Aus fans would rather win the Bledisloe cup by winning a game 3 nil rather than lose a game 44-43 which had great wallaby running rugby. I think its time for Chieka to re-think his attitude, his policies, his selections and his style of play, otherwise it will soon become time for the ARU to re-think his position

Might be the case by I look at it this way. England aren't a good enough side to win this series 3-0 because the Wallabies aren't a bad enough side not to have learnt enough to avoid a 3-0 whitewash. I think the natural order of things will be restored somewhat tonight with an oz win...not because I've seen any reason that might happen, but simply because whoever pulls on the Wallaby jersey won't let it. This English side doesn't scream anything special despite the English media falling all over themselves...they do tend to go overboard when their side either wins or loses.. I think we've now seen the best of the English...we hadn't after the first, but we have now, but we certainly haven't seen what Oz can do yet. They've been firing blanks and have just not woken up to the basic, simple, structured yet very good style of the English so can't get any breakthrough. I think the best of Cheika will come out tonight, and of the oz bests...Hooper, Folau etc will step up big time, and that the small, yet unavoidable thread of complacency of England will play a part. Oz have been poor so far, but I still don't think they're a 3-0 poor. Oz are going to be in their faces and I'm guessing there's some of the thinking from the English that they just want to get home and share their series win, regardless of tonight. They may have improved but I don't think they're mentally tough enough yet to take the dead rubber as well.

No you're not

Awww someone's got a Brexit hangover.

looking forward to you posting something not chip related neil.

So you saying the All Blacks will only beat us by 21?

Well, RT you got to realise it takes all sorts and you never quite know where a man likes or takes his pleasure. I think we have to conclude that he has nothing more meaningful to say, which is understandable and regrettable in the circumstances. I think I would just grit my teeth and say nothing.

I wish blokes like you would stop with your 'all credit to England' nonsense as you take it all away again in your next breath.

"Kerevi has been good for us but he's played two tests in a row so it's time for someone else to come in" That has to be the dumbest comment a coach from any sport has ever made. So Cheika, correct me if I'm wrong but you're selection policy is basically "play well and you'll be dropped, have a bad game and your position is secure!" That's the only way I can understand dropping Kerevi and keeping Foley (and others). Of course you need a second playmaker when your fly-half has no playmaking ability at all, along with being a passenger in defence and having a terrible kicking game. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.