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.
wirimu
Guest
Its bloody hard work being a Wallaby number 10 when your playing behind the recent & present Wallaby forwards especially when your up against the top rugby teams in the world. Spare a minute & think how Foley or QC would like to be behind the All Black pack..........
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Apart from an unnecessary and spiteful swipe at the courageous Bernard Foley, you are close to the truth Chriso. "There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, when taken at the flood, leads to fortune....." Australia's early Quade opportunity was mishandled. And it did not lead to fortune. Whether there is another high tide in the Tokorua Tornado will be a question given clues tonight. This long suffering Wallabies fan has been praying for this particular Phoenix to rise for 5 years. Whatever his faults he is the current 10 closest to Larkham, and Ella.
Sebastian Amor-Smith
Roar Rookie
Yeah I somewhat agree. I think Cheika is a good business man. He is still a relatively young coach, so I am not going to write him off immediately. I don't think we can write him off just yet, as he did turn the Wallabies around last year. Besides the kicking issues, I think another big issue was the defense. I share the optimism that the Wallabies can turn their defense around with a week, but what I really concerned about is the second row and who gets the 10 jersey. I don't think it's a case of Quade having to step up, at this stage as long as he doesn't play poorly (big ask I know), the 10 jersey could be his for a while. I am happy to see Simmons dropped. Not being a Force fan, I haven't seen Coleman a great deal - but from the highlights I have seen, he has the potential. Hopefully we can be proud of the wallabies efforts this weekend.
William Tell
Guest
Never seen it put so bluntly - thanks Chriso. Pity about that last line though - not necessary. No one is nominating Cooper, or Hooper for that matter, for sainthood. Lots of players have had their issues along the way - including with team management. It is the job of that management to reconcile talent and behaviour in the interests of the bigger picture. Take a look at the way Bennett and the Broncos work with their players - lots of strong guidance and only in the face of persistent and wilfull resistance have team members been let go. The gang warfare waged on Cooper - by some Australian and NZ rugby supporters - has been disgraceful. Every on-field mis-step hooted and hollered - every success downplayed. And he keeps turning up - that's gutsy.
RobC
Roar Guru
Hi Sebastian. Welcome to the Roar. Thanks for joining all the way from Mexico. I dont think the problem lies with the 10: - This deflects from the true nature of the problem which is the coach - The issue is his lack of responsiveness to the rapid changes in the game. Also Im not convinced Check listens to many people, especially most pundits Look forward to your next article. Good to see more peep posting from LatAm.
Lebowski
Roar Rookie
The argument needs it. There is definite confirmation bias happening for Foley. The herd just follow the general vibe of the quade hate and that amplifies everything. Because of a.) Stephanie Rice and b.) Pushing McCaw, Quade has a public enemy profile. The nerd squad at the ARU hated his image and any poor performance exists in an echo chamber. When it comes down to whether the raw talents of Quade or Foley should've been nurtured by Aus rugby it should definitely been Quade. With good guidance he could've developed a steady head and good decision making and better goal kicking. But they hung him out to dry, wilfully. The argument isn't who should play this Saturday, it's not even an argument. Quade fans know Aus rugby got it wrong and the result is Bernard The Turdman Foley.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Arguably on paper, don't get me wrong, a good find Redbull, solid. ;)
Marlins Tragic
Guest
Has anyone see Reece Hodge punt a ball? He has a MASSIVE boot!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I think he's referring to the fact that McCaw actually was the first to strike, throwing a cheeky elbow at cooper before he gave any sneaky knees or anything.
Trent Kyle
Roar Rookie
I think the lack of talent and depth in Aus rugby is the big issue.
Terry
Guest
Dave, You wont get an answer on any of those questions, because McCaw was onside? and eagleJack hate QC or Love Bernard. Their wil be deafening silence from those two..
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So how can your opinion of him have changed? He has played about 10 total games of rugby in Australia since then due to injury.
Blue Gold
Guest
The article is about QC ... Personally, I defended him when he was the regular WBs 10 and he justified himself on the 2013 spring tour. At that time everyone was screaming for him to be dropped. Now most are singing his praises because he's not there. Most people are simply following suit when it comes to opinions on selection.
Joe Blow
Guest
Running rugby? You have to get your hands on the pill first
OJP
Guest
I quite like QC as a player and despite them not being my team etc, I enjoyed the way the Reds played when they won the Super comp most recently. Other posters have clearly noted that like everyone, he has strengths and weaknesses etc. What I'd most like to know more about is 'Coopers refusal to cop what McCaw handed out' ... what did he hand out that QC refused to cop ?
OJP
Guest
William, you also missed that he stuffed up the Phipps / Phibbs thing.... but then he's hardly alone on that score. Honestly, if I were Phibbs, I'd be pretty narky by now. SAS - dont be disheartened; I didnt agree with plenty that you had to say, but I enjoyed how you tried to say it.
OJP
Guest
just on the 'SA have been doing it for years' (ie bringing back the overseas players) and they have excelled, I'm not sure that our regular South African posters BB, Harry, AvZ, CR, SP* etc would concur with this view. I'm pretty sure they were 'underwhelmed' with the condition their boys came back in and the subsequent impact they had vs Ireland. * Didnt mention Bakkies because he only ever appears to agree with himself so its not fair to include him.
Redbull
Guest
"The team will surely do better next time" Says who? It is entirely likely the margin will be greater in a wet cold Wellington. The playing group is unlikely to change significantly, the coaching group will stay the same. In fact all that will change is that NZ will have a had a hit out that has probably improved their new combinations. Though you are of course quite correct, if only because of regression to the mean
Redbull
Guest
He used "shouldn't have" instead of "shouldn't of" as well. Very posh
William Tell
Guest
Heh Big Fella, let's get this straight. Quade Cooper is not, in any order you like: (Mark) Ella, McLean, Lynagh, Larkham (the wrecker), Mehrtens, Wilkinson etc etc. He's the Quade Cooper who saved the Wallabies bacon in another era when he scored, more or less first touch, against Italy a while back and saved a Test. And again against the ABs in Hong Kong ini 2010 when his try contributed to a narrow win. This unrelenting attack is born of two factors, Cooper's refusal to cop what McCaw handed out and his contributions to defeats against the Tahs. There is a price to be paid for upstarts refusing to know their place, and this is it for Cooper.