When the Wallabies reached the Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham last year, Michael Cheika’s career stat was 15 Tests for 11 wins at a 73 per cent win-rate – and the Wallabies were ranked No.2 in the world.
After losing the RWC decider to the All Blacks and all three Tests to England, Cheika’s win rate has dropped to 57.9 per cent, and the Wallabies to fourth in the world rankings behind the All Blacks, England, and South Africa.
To increase Cheika’s headache, the five Australian franchises played their New Zealand Super Rugby counterparts 26 times this season.
The Kiwis won 22 with a draw – almost one-way traffic.
The only positive parts, the Brumbies thumped the Hurricanes 52-10 in week one.
The Reds drew 25-all with the Blues in week four, and beat the Highlanders 28-27 in week seven.
And the Waratahs beat the Chiefs 45-25 in week 14 – and that’s it in 26 games.
To worsen the headache, the Kiwis scored a total of 876 points, the Australians 482.
Individually, the Waratahs were “the best”, scoring 126 points to 146 – a difference of minus 20 in five games.
The Brumbies managed 124 points to 176 – a diff of minus 52 in six games, reaching the quarters.
Then it gets really ugly.
The Reds scored 77 to 169 – a diff of minus 92 in five games.
The Force scored 68 to 163 – a diff of minus 95 in five games.
While the Rebels managed only 87 to 222 – a diff of minus 135 in five.
The tries told the same sorry story.
The New Zealand franchises scored a total of 124 tries, the Australians just 60.
The Waratahs scored 18 to 20, the Brumbies 14-23, the Reds 10-24, the Rebels 12-33, and the Force a miserable six to 24.
Cheika now has to lift a Wallaby squad which has been hammered by New Zealanders to defend the Rugby Championship they won so handsomely last year, and try to regain the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.
And the first two games would have to be against the All Blacks, and just a week apart.
If Cheika can’t lift his squad, their Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup campaign will be done and dusted in the first seven days.
The Wallaby draw
August 20 against the All Blacks at ANZ Stadium – referee Jaco Peyper.
August 27 – the All Blacks at Wellington – Romain Poite.
September 10 – Springboks at Suncorp – Nigel Owens.
September 17 – Pumas in Perth – Wayne Barnes.
October 1 – Springboks at Loftus Versfold – Wayne Barnes.
October 8 – Pumas at Twickenham – Mathieu Raynal.
Who?
Raynal is French and 34-years-old. He has reffed nine Tests, but the only ones I can find are Malta-Netherlands, Scotland-Tonga, and Uruguay-USA, unless they are counting Junior World Cup games.
One Raynal quote is worth repeating.
“I enjoy travelling, meeting new people, having friendships, and developing as a person holistically.”
Heaven help us.
The Wallaby Rugby Championship squad of 36, to be trimmed later:
Forwards (20):
Allan Alaalatoa.
Adam Coleman.
Kane Douglas.
Scott Fardy.
James Hanson.
Michael Hooper.
Sekope Kepu.
Ben McCalman.
Sean McMahon.
Stephen Moore (c).
Dean Mumm.
David Pocock.
Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Tom Robertson.
Rob Simmons.
Scott Sio.
Will Skelton.
James Slipper.
Toby Smith.
And Lopeti Timani.
Backs (16):
Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Quade Cooper..
Israel Folau.
Bernard Foley.
Nick Frisby.
Will Genia.
Matt Giteau.
Dane Haylett-Petty.
Reece Hodge.
Rob Horne.
Samu Kerevi.
Tevita Kuridrani.
Drew Mitchell.
Luke Morahan.
Nick Phipps.
And Matt Toomua.
Greg Holmes, Steve Carter, and Christian Lealiifano have been overlooked, Rory Arnold has an elbow injury, while Liam Gill is Toulon-bound.
Good to see David Pocock is back, and Lopeti Timani has at last been included.
But Michael Cheika has to lift the recent performances of skipper Stephen Moore, Scott Fardy, Scott Sio, Dean Mumm, Rob Horne, and especially Nick Phipps.
At least Will Genia’s there.
Terry
Guest
Stephen Moore, Scott Fardy, Scott Sio, Dean Mumm, Rob Horne, and especially Nick Phipps ...I would only have Scott Sio in the 23.. The rest are cannon fodder..
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Moore has been named as Captain, so he will be starting No.2
Buk
Guest
Thanks David. A a Reds fan, it was great to at least know we had the best win or draw record against NZ teams. Obviously we managed to lull them into a false sense of security.
Jacko
Guest
That send-off was completely warranted.
CUW
Guest
true but then Owens can talk in english ( and talk he does - a lot of it !!!) problem with Raynal is he cant speak english well. communication being only second to accuracy of decision making - it presents a very huge issue to both sides , unless ur very conversant in french. he famosly sent off racing 92's scrum half in this years top 14 finals.
CUW
Guest
@ taylorman IMO the 3 top guys in international rugger - Joubert Owens and Barnes have all gotten "bigger heads" with the media attention on them. all 3 when reffing seem to be focussed on themselves a little more than necessary and , to me look to be the center of attention. Owens for example effed up both the semi and final in Euros he reffed. my issue is despite making clearly wrong decisions , he talked a lot to justify them. Joubert also talked a lot during some matches i wated in super and 7s world series and seemed to make up LAWS - like his definition of dummy running and obstruction (think it was stormers v bulls ) Barnes , well he seems to think he is God and makes decisions despite obvious evidence to the contrary. I still think he sent off Hartley in that aviva final more on ego than real wrongdoing (though i dont think hartley is an angel). i think Pollock was the better one , who retired from tests. i think Peyper makes funny decisions (which are also incorrect ) and Jackson has lost form from last year - when he did well. the guy i really like to see soon in tests is Rastaman - who i think is very good in 7s and JP Doyle .
Lostintokyo
Guest
The Rugby Championship is going to be a very big test of Cheika. All I ask is that he introduces new blood and has a game plan which is different from the dross served up in most of the Super game by other coaches. No new blood, no new game plan, we may as well not bother turning up.
sheek
Roar Guru
Good morning David, The RC squad has a similar look as last year's world cup squad, which is encouraging. Maybe the only encouraging thing! By my count, 27 of the 36 man squad named for the RC participated in the RWC. That will cover many flaws exposed against England, but perhaps not all of them.
Wow
Guest
I can't believe the time still hasn't come for Chieka to admit Phipps is never going to play a decent game of Test rugby unless they play Uzbekistan.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Or if the ref is Joubert.
Dally
Guest
McMahon on, Fardy to bench, come on and lead late in game Taf on, Moore to bench, has been a terrible leader and form like many Brumbies is way off Kerevi on, Kuridriani to bench, has lost all impact Pocock captain, a person who has the right values and respect for the role Phipps to bench, not good enough Horne out, not good enough Mumm out, not good enough Skelton out AAC, Mitchell and Giteau, all will be way off the pace v the likes of ABs and SA, so only on for minimal periods if at all, for leadership and game management Timani, Hodge, Robertson and other younger players, get them out there and amongst it off bench wherever possible but perhaps not vs ABs just yet
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Realist I don't think that comparing 2 poor teams in SR this year, offers either of them a gong! The Hurricanes last night would have put 40 points on either of them. I suspect the Lions would have as well but I did not see the game.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
it must be pretty difficult to match up a headline with a DL 'contribution' ... they could just bung it under heading called - DLs random numbers
Jeff
Guest
I don't think we need to worry .If David remains true to form the selected 23 man squad will be a "cracker" One selection will be hailed as proof of Cheika's "brilliance" And Cheika's status as "the best coach in the world"will give us the necessary advantage over the ABs to win. Sorry must go a flying pig just crashed into my roof.
Rebellion
Guest
But he mentions Dean Mumm and Nic Phipps. Both players should not be in consideration for the 23. Phipps should be given a break from the RC to focus on passing ten miss the Spring Tour to focus on options under pressure and when to run from the scrum base
samalavich
Roar Rookie
i dunno nigel vs 15 big bokke - i think nigel is a good man and all but it would be a big ask.. or are we talking about 15 cloned nigels vs the boks that i would pay to see.... imagine the one-liners
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
I used to also believe that, however when looking at the Wallabies performances in their series against England I had clearly underestimated the link between Australian Super rugby and the test arena. It's true that national teams unite the best XV players available in the country and it's a best against the best scenario, but if you choose to ignore individual performances in Super rugby arguing that it's not the same as test rugby, you can't ignore the confidence, skill and form of Kiwi players that will be carried into the test arena.
Realist
Guest
Gotta love Lord's spin. The Waratahs better than Brumbies? I don't think so.
Lroy
Guest
that is an incredible statistic which I was not aware of, thanks for pointing it out ;-)
samalavich
Roar Rookie
good point noodle - I'm still so so on bringing back the OS players but hopefully they will provide an experienced environment for the younger guys like hodge and timani to come though without taking up to much game time that the new guys need to get under their belts