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This is an embarrassing time for the Wallabies and the Australian rugby community.
While the players no doubt had their role to play in this humiliation, it is not onerous of Cheika to blame himself for the poor performance. Likewise, the Wallabies fans — and past Wallabies greats like Matt Bourke — should take ownership for some of the blame.
Before I begin, it is important to note that Cheika has achieved and done great things for the Waratahs in Super Rugby, and with the Wallabies in the international fora. Therefore, public outcries from ephemeral supporters should have little weight in this discussion.
Cheika has created a new rugby culture. At least the rhetoric coming out of the Wallabies camp shows signs of cohesion and a sense of team responsibility – which is a vast improvement from the Deans and McKenzie eras. His approach to honesty and the ability to take ownership for poor outcomes should be commended.
From an outsider’s point of view, he seems to be pushing the Wallabies in the right direction. Appointing Mario Ledesma and Mike Byrne was, as many claim, a ‘masterstroke’.
Again, Cheika should be commended, as these appointments were several years overdue. This optimism and appraisal shouldn’t be afforded to Stephen Larkham. Maybe Cheika should have utilised the Wallabies great in a strictly mentoring role.
Bernie might be a touch too green for international coaching. Hopefully he proves me wrong.
While controversial, the Giteau Law was several years overdue too. The fact is that Australia does not have the player base and therefore, subsequent depth. The simple point remains: Cheika has reformed the Australian Rugby Union’s business model.
The point I am trying to make is that Cheika is good business man. He is strategic. He responds to consumers tastes, and has tailored the Wallabies brand of rugby to the Australian rugby public desires.
He responded to the cries for running rugby. He has made the Waratahs and the Wallabies play attractive rugby – which sadly went on an extended decade-long sabbatical post-2003. You could say it was the Dark Ages of Australian rugby in the professional era.
However, Cheika shouldn’t have responded to the cries of past players like Matt Bourke to kick the ball more.
Why might you ask? The answer is simple and it coming from a diehard Waratahs fan.
The current Wallabies team does not have Test match level kickers. They are inhibited by Bernard Foley’s kicking efficacy. His kick length is too small for Test match rugby, especially when he stands so deep. The Wallabies do not have a reliable penalty kicker from the 40 metre plus range.
Foley lacks accuracy and he executes his kicks far too slowly, which gives the opposition ample time to charge them down. It pains me to say it, but even with a lack of game time under his belt, Quade Cooper might be our only option for the next Test… I was quick to call for Foley’s appointment, and I am being equally quick to call for his relegation.
Cheika shouldn’t have listened to the Australian rugby fans who wanted to see more kicking during the Bledisloe either. Shifting the focus from Foley, it is time to evaluate Israel Folau. There is a reason he didn’t have much success in the AFL – he can’t kick.
Therefore, he needs to be moved to the centres, and when the time comes, Kurtley Beale can play where he belongs: fullback. Yes, I am aware he is injured, but Beale has the kicking game to pull the Wallabies out of their 22 when need be.
His ‘chip and chase’ also provides the kicking spontaneity the Wallabies need at fullback. More importantly, he has the natural ability to pull those types of kicks off in test match rugby.
Now, if those positional changes were made, where would you put Tevita Kuridrani? Small centres are a thing of the past and hoping Tevita is just in a form slump, I would put him in the number 12 jersey. Kuridrani is a solid defender, and he would strengthen the defence in the 10-12 channel, which would be weaker if Cooper got the fly-half role.
I understand that mentioning Cooper’s name is quite taboo. However, there were calls from the Wallabies camp to play a similar type of rugby orchestrated by the Reds in 2011. How about selecting the two players who made that possible then?
Yes, I apologise to any readers from the Kings School. However, Nick Phipps has to go – he has a poor kicking game. While Phipps showed great courage and determination, it is not representative of his usual performance at scrum half. That being said, unlike Dane Haylett-Penny, at least Phibbs made is first-up tackles.
Whilst I am giving Kings players a hard time, Dean Mumm, your international career should have never been reignited. While I did see him break the gain line on Saturday, he is too small. Lopeti Timani, warm up son, the Wallabies need your size at the breakdown.
Michael Cheika knows how to run a business, and engage fans. However, Cheika shouldn’t listen to the fans to the extent that he did.
In the past when players like Adam Ashley-Cooper used the grubber, rugby commentators and fans alike criticised the Wallabies for doing so. When in actual fact, they were the right options to take as nothing was on, AAC was isolated, and at the very least the grubbers put the defence on the back foot scrambling.
In response to criticisms, Cheika got rid of the grubber. However, now its back and everyone is complaining again.
To the Australian rugby fans, I would say make your minds up and be congruent with your criticisms.
Yes, the Wallabies need to kick more, but it needs to be executed with perfection. The current team doesn’t have this ability.
Good luck Mike Byrne, you have got your work cut out for you, especially if Foley and Phipps continue in the 23-man team.
I hope Cheika and Australian rugby fans remember that running rugby, is entertaining rugby. I would prefer to see the Wallabies lose with class, by scoring tries than kicking aimlessly.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.