Michael Cheika has repeatedly told the Australian rugby community about how much he cares about the Wallabies, and with the commitment and passion he displays in public, there is every reason to believe him.
However, the Wallabies’ Saturday night loss against the Pumas on the Gold Coast again displayed the sad fact that none of Cheika’s passion has made a lick of difference, because since the 2015 Rugby World Cup he has taken the Wallabies backwards.
The best examples of this are an uncharacteristic series of home losses against teams the Wallabies should have beaten. These include:
The first ever three-Test series loss to England and the first home three-nil whitewash against any team since the Springbok tour of 1971.
The home loss against Scotland in 2017, this was not a midweek game with second string team like Robbie Dean’s 2012 loss in Newcastle, but a full test with his best players onboard.
A series loss against Ireland in 2018, the first home series loss against that team since 1979.
And on Saturday night the home loss to Argentina for the first time since 1983.
This comes on top of generally miserable results both home and away against Tier 1 opponents, with a solitary post World Cup win against an under-strength All Blacks team in the 2017 dead rubber in Brisbane the only real positive.
The standard of the current Wallabies is not all Michael Cheika’s fault, as the state of rugby administration in Australia has made coaching the Wallabies a tough gig for a very long time, but Cheika’s record simply cannot be ignored.
It doesn’t need to be dissected, it has been debated thousands of times, but it should now be abundantly clear that he is simply cannot keep up in the international coaching competition.
However, being the smart businessman he is, Cheika negotiated a four-year contract with former Rugby Australia CEO Bill Pulver during the post-2015 World Cup final euphoria. It has been suggested in the media that paying out Cheika’s contract prior to the 2019 World Cup would be cost prohibitive for Rugby Australia.
(Photo by Jason O’Brien/Getty Images)
This is where Cheika’s own judgement, values and care for his team need to come into play. As much as he might desperately want to take the Wallabies to another World Cup, surely, he can see that with the way he is coaching this team, it would take a stroke of luck to rival Steven Bradbury’s 2002 winter Olympics speed skating win for the team to win?
Surely, he can see that the Wallabies risk being ejected from the competition early, in a humiliation to rival or exceed the 2007 quarterfinal loss to England?
Rugby is the only genuinely international, high profile and regularly played winter sport that Australia has traditionally been good at and at their best, the Wallabies have been a focal point of pride and unity for the entire Australian nation.
The Wallabies are a significant part of our national face to the world, displaying what Australians would like to be thought of as: tough, passionate and competitive, but also fair and courteous.
Our current crop of Wallabies has the potential to be great representatives in that regard, but they can’t play that role if they are being coached so badly that they look like fools when they play rugby.
I reckon it is time for Michael Cheika to have a think about whether he wants to be the bloke who is remembered for driving the Wallabies into the dirt, because of personal ambitions that are beyond him. If he was to resign as Wallabies coach, it would allow Rugby Australia to pay another experienced coach, which can only improve the Wallabies’ chances of performing respectably in the next World Cup.
Would there be any guarantees of success? No, but any chance of success is better than no chance, which is effectively what the Wallabies have now.
Cheika is still an outstanding, elite club level coach so it isn’t like he would have to end his association with rugby, he would get a gig somewhere. He might even get another crack at the international big league with the benefit of a few years more experience, like his old mate Eddie Jones has with Japan and England.
It is well and truly time for Michael Cheika to demonstrate those other Australian values of selflessness and humility and clear the way for another coach to have a go at making the Wallabies great again. Plenty of fans think a lot of what he did in Australian rugby up until and including the 2015 World Cup final and would think even more of him if he did the right thing now.
giuseppe grillea
Guest
Graham Henry
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well actually how many of the current players were around? Beale, Hooper (and very briefly as a junior member of the team under Deans), Kepu, TPN, Pocock, Genia and Folau it seems.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I think the view that you shouldn't replace Cheika without a better option is great if the team is doing ok, but not really getting closer to where they should be under Cheika. The reality is, they at least to be going backwards under Cheika. As you said, a new coach will get the instant uplift, plus also bring some fan positivity. That should be enough to consider a 12 month option, and have 18 months to look for a coach for 2020. The results have just gotten to dire to continue.
Adam Mort
Guest
Matt Phillip in the 2nd row.
Jed Ashton
Guest
Unfortunately it is not solely a coach problem. Nor would bringing back once acclaimed world's best fly half (after Dan Carter retired) Quade Cooper solve the Wallaby's once attacking prowess.
Des Tooman
Guest
Cheika did make a parting comment about Robbie Deans. Which was when your best isnt good enough you have to except it and move on oh how the tables have turned.
Dave
Guest
Cheika to go. Maybe can coach a little but absolutely no idea on selection or talent identification, hence Foley and Phipps still there. WC 2015..........coaches honeymoon period, always happens..........for the motivators, but true form shows later, like now. Alan Jones anyone? Put him in now, 1 year until end of WC 2019 then out the door. I'm being provocative but only a little. There would be a hundred better alternatives than Cheika at this moment. RA needs some balls and put its foot down and take selection away from the coach.
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
Maybe we should ask the Argies if we can have Mario back in return for Cheika ????
Vman
Guest
I agree with you about the Pumas. They have more or less continuously improved before and since joining the RC and it is only a matter of time before they beat the ABs. After that a Championship win becomes a future possibility for Argentina. It's excellent for Rugby and I'm enjoying them.
Vman
Guest
I remember that 2015 World Cup QF refereeing blunder vividly. It seemed an obvious error with the benefit of TV zoom cameras. Some unconscious bias for sure. I felt Scotland was robbed. Whatever my feeling though, it was clear that Australia got much further in that competition than their form justified. They got lucky. So then you have to ask yourself what sort of management agrees to a 4 year coaching contract without performance clauses? Or if there are performance clauses, what are they doing to monitor performance and change direction before it is too late? And who agreed to doing away with a selection panel? What I am getting at, is that they need to reform from the very top down. Starting with the board and then by reversing their diversity quota hire of an under qualified and under performing CEO. When the CEO thinks her most difficult challenge was to decide to drag a player into a meeting to tell him not to be so religious, rather than let the players know the management have their back .... well you get outraged people pushing players around all over the place and the serious structural issues in Rugby Australia not being addressed.
RobC
Roar Guru
Bernie's forwards played like how Jake White's teams, which was bad especially as the BD rules changed rapidly from 2016 onwards The confused and incredulous look on Poey's face after his BD work was penalised 3 or 4 times a row in their first SR match in 2016 was a major tell. I am almost certain, if Bernie takes over the reigns now, it will be a disaster. Worse than now.
Uncle Eric
Guest
Despite all the clamouring I don't believe Cheika will resign. There is a weird aura surrounding Cheika, possibly a combination of inordinate self-belief, coupled with a massive ego. This wouldn't be such a problem if the man had genuine coaching and tactical skills, but so far he has demonstrated none of these. Unfortunately RA has also contributed to this situation with its termination of the Force, poor disbursement of revenue and failure to promote the game, above and below the line. Until there is a huge shake up at the top the fish will continue to rot.
Tony H
Roar Pro
Folau is an awful option as Outside Centre. He can't pass, which means he takes the wingers out of the game in attack, and there's no way he has the defensive nous to play there. Folau is a winger. End of story.
Tony H
Roar Pro
No
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
No, what is interesting is that All Blacks supporters are Cheika’s biggest advocates, up to and including Steven Hanson. Mario Ledesema put in a good word for him last week too. It says it all when his opponents are desperate to see him stay in the job.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I think they get behind him, they just don't know how to get behind him. You don't do it by trying to over analyse every little instance of a match, every little nuance of every player. Refs are blamed where thats at all possible, then the players then inevitably its back to Cheika, then around and around we go again. That happens all week and then another test is played and all that previous stuff is forgotten and a whole lot more micro analysis is done on every little thing that happened. In the end it all gets nowhere. I dont know what the answer is but spending so much time on the micro analysing of what just happened isnt the answer.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Umm, no its not. This is not a talented Wallabies squad. Its over beared with no one new coming through to dominate their position either locally or internationally. The best players? Pocock, Beale, Folau, Genia, Hooper. All there since 2010? odd. Not one other player this year has been a certain pick in that time, and if they have, they're not worlds best stuff.
Brian George
Guest
"... a focal point of pride and unity for the entire Australian nation." Hyperbole much?
Pat
Guest
Michael Cheika is a great coach. He is short of talent in key areas. The Super teams have not been great at nurturing emerging talent. His half back options are past their best and there is no sign of exiting talent coming through in these positions. The pack has developed well but he is missing a world class hooker and a true number 8 (we need Sean McMahon back ASAP) Toomua is a better 12 than Beale but the best 12 is Karmichael Hunt. Beale should be our full back where he can inject himself into the line. He is also a good return kicker. Folau’s best position is on the wing. He defends box kicks really well and that is becoming a bigger part of the game. I’d love to see James O’Connor back in Australia. He’s only 27! It’s time for Wallaby fans to get behind Cheika and the team.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Interesting...the same ones calling fir Cheikas head are the same ones gushing over his better selections last week...’getting nearer to how it should look’ was the them of last week. Everyone seemed to agree with Pocock back at 7 and captain, most ridiculed D Lord for saying Folau shouldnt move, everyone loved the Beale Toomey connection etc etc. Now its Cheikas head they want for...’poor selection reasons’? When is everyone gonna get it? Oz dont have the players to cut it at test level consistently. They have Pocock and Folau who might make a workd xv, no one else gets close. Genias too inconsistent and slow a lot of the time, Beales missing in action more than not, the rest swap places until they play a bad one, or ten. At least last weekend he tried so ething different. Huge overeaction here and once again the opposition not being given its due credit. This is proving to be a very good Pumas side, probably the best since they joined the RC, and oz dont have players as good as Sanchez, creedy, pofillo.