My heart sank to lows seldom experienced when Israel Folau failed to pass the ball to his unmarked teammate, Bernard Foley, who surely would have scored in the corner, robbing the Pumas of a well-deserved victory.
It was the final seconds of the final act of a pitiable Wallaby performance, evidence that nightmares and fairytales exist perilously close on either side of an exceptionally narrow bridge.
How long can Australia endure the unforced mistake malaise they appear to be in? Were we not ensured that this year’s Wallabies were fitter, more skillful and prepared for the Irish and the Rugby Championship – but, yet again, we are left wondering what the bloody hell is going on?
I wanted answers, and to my surprise, I got them from Michael Cheika, in his emotionally drained post-match press conference.
I like Michael Cheika. I always have and I think I always will. There is a working-class authenticity about him that resonates. A grit that I deeply admire. But I suspect that his ever-enduring loyalty to his core group is now loyalty to a fault.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika (Photo by Jason O’Brien/Getty Images)
His enduring belief in his style of rugby is now belief in fantasy. After viewing his angst and appraisal of the Wallabies’ performance last Saturday night, Cheika sees what needs to happen.
But does he have the courage to make the tough decisions in both gameplan and selections? I don’t think so – and it will ultimately be his undoing.
Disturbingly, during that press conference, Cheika said of the Folau non-pass, “Yeah, but it’s irrelevant.” He went on to say, “There just wasn’t enough enthusiasm is what it all boils down to and you need to be accountable for that.”
Well, that’s half the job. Holding the last pass, despite the performance, is absolutely relevant. Do you think in the dying stages of the quarter-final of the 1991 Rugby World Cup at Lansdowne Road, with Ireland leading, skipper Michael Lynagh said, “Don’t worry about the execution lads, just give me some enthusiasm!”
Or, in the 2001 decider against the British and Irish Lions, lock Justin Harrison thought as the ball was about to be thrown to Martin Johnson from the lineout, “If I just give this enough enthusiasm I’ll be right.”
I understand what Cheika is angling at, and he is right. It is about enthusiasm, it is about winning the key moments, it is about accountability for one’s performance.
But that performance cannot simply be accounted for by the enthusiasm barometer when there are other aspects to the game, such as the ability to perform basic functions consistently.
AAP Image/ David Rowland
These were the requirements of the aspiring first grader a few decades ago. Cheika would know that, he was one, yet his consistent failure to hold those to account during a match ensures that when those basic skills are required in the championship moments, the players are not delivering.
The courageous man would drop those who don’t perform. Simple as that. The courageous man would adapt and employ fresh tactics, and cease the folly of hoping, praying that perhaps this time the opposition will be fooled by endless out-the-back plays and forwards standing at first receiver.
Yet I suspect Cheika will hold onto the old guard and the old ways.
If ever there was time for a Bob Dwyer intervention, it is now. Dwyer himself famously dropped players who could not perform for him and plucked players from obscurity and gave them a shot. Cheika simply can’t keep recycling the rubbish and expect a better result.
But who to pick? That is not the real question. The real question is who does he drop?
If Cheika wants to get his stars to perform, he needs to light the proverbial fire under their backsides and there would be no greater wake-up call than actually being held accountable for your performance. Bring in some fresh faces who bring that much-needed enthusiasm Cheika seeks as a circuit breaker. Try something new, or even old that is known to work.
I would drop Tatafu Polota-Nau – not because I don’t think he could still be an asset at the World Cup, but he needs to do more. I would drop Rob Simmons and take a young lock out of the NRC and on tour to Argentina and South Africa. Play him if needs be.
I would leave Michael Hooper at home and if he feels he is right to play, well you come back via the NRC.
If Lukhan Tui is unavailable, don’t just assume Ned Hanigan walks into the 6 jumper, take Angus Cottrell or Jed Hollaway. Give these blokes a shot.
Spark the desire to earn a cap or keep one.
moaman
Roar Guru
Nick; sounds to me as though you are loyal to Cheika "to a fault."
Baz
Guest
Mate you are pretty much spot on. I to like the Cheik but his player loyalty is costing Australian Rugby and possibly his job. It is maybe too late for him to start trying different players. I suspect he may win one of the 2 remaining games but think he will be gone before Christmas. I think the only thing saving him at the moment is the lack of an alternative. There are a number of players who are playing for a contract rather than their country. I believe Tui is not a great loss. TPN is not the player he was. Simmons and Hannigan should not be in the squad. Cheik is better off selecting blue collar forwards with a good work rate and attitude.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Great post Don, I have been whinging about the backrow for what feels like several lifetimes. We need speed and power in the BR and we have not had that for the last 2 years at least. In fact, since he dumped the Brumbies #6 (mem lapse!) who did most of the work in the backrow. You cant win without a decent backrow and lose the breakdown = lose the game was always the rule in my day. If you don't compete in every department against the AB's then you are lost before you start...
frank
Guest
Hooper not worth the 5 yr contract? Whats the word limit here..
Don
Roar Rookie
I think many people understand the money. Plenty of us would prefer McMahon or Gill but also appreciate the money is probably at the top end of the scale for international open sides who play 80 minutes and rarely get injured. But to sign a guy for 5 years, rather than 3 is neither necessary nor commercially prudent. If no one better is available in the next 2 years you’d just extend his contract. If we have some better quality alternatives return or come through you sign them up and let Hooper go to market. I think a part of the strategy in securing Hooper for 5 years is him being the promotional face for Aus Rugby now that Folau has some sectors offside. If correct, then that’s a poor marketing strategy.
HUH ?
Guest
You do know who holds the rugby world record for cards ?
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Akari................ Hooper.............Age, rugby in Australia is skint, grass roots crying out for $$'s, win percentage as captain. "I wouldn't switch one Wallaby for an AB at the moment". Honorable sentiment but just say it in private. Long contracts, to anyone, close off pathways and suddenly NRL looks attractive.
Akari
Roar Rookie
But Rugby Australia was already a basket case for at least a decade and long before Raelene Castle was appointed as CEO. Why then is the demise of rugby in Australia her fault? As to Hooper's signing, why is he not worth his 5 year contract?
Don
Roar Rookie
I watch a lot of Rugby and Rugby League. Interestingly, the U20s comp that the NRL ran for years saw some young guys that absolutely dominated the competition for a few years against guys their own age. Loads of them never saw this translate into an NRL senior career once they moved into the grades. A side that won 3 U20s comps like the Warriors spent most of the decade not contesting finals in the NRL. Conversely, the most successful NRL side over the same period, the Melbourne Storm, put significantly lower importance on the NRL U20s and sent their best young guys into the Qld and Nsw Intrust Cup comps playing largely against men and many are guys who are all fighting for a contract. This means their young guys are “hardened” to the speed and toughness of playing senior guys. In the fight for the 4 SR sides to sign all the good young guys to contracts we see far too many kids playing SR who aren’t as good as mature players running around in Shute Shield or Premier Rugby. This is somewhat being corrected with the NRC but we are miles away from changing the way Rugby in Australia throws contracts at schoolboys afraid of losing a young talent to League. Let them go. Don’t let the player managers keep conning us that it’s a sellers market. Look beyond the schools and accept there’s talent that has oftentimes never been given the opportunity or maybe a late bloomer in our club ranks.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Geez how flippin hard is it to pass both ways. Its not as though its a halfbacks pass. Its almost as though his left arm is paralyzed. How can one not have had enough practice passing both ways and get to 30 in this game?
Don
Roar Rookie
Cheika has a plan going into games. In fact he telegraphs the key facets of the plan when he announces the side. When the opposition see Pooper or the Samu version coupled with Folau at fullback and Foley at 10, opponents know we clearly are not going to kick out or long for territory and focus on contesting the line out. It can’t even be an option to revert to because he picks the next best version of his starting side on the bench rather than anyone who can bring impact (Tupou aside.) When we pick Foley & Beale at 10 / 12 they know there’s an opportunity to attack our backline quickly while we move players into their different defensive positions. They know there won’t be any cut out passes from 10 to 13 or 15 because almost everything relies on Beale touching the ball. Any opposition coach who has watched or played the Wallabies in the past 3 years should be able to pick apart the game plan and understand how to beat it with a reasonable player roster. Sure, we’ll see a breakout performance here and there and record a win or two but even a broken clock is right twice a day... I said in a comment last week that if we lack confidence in our players skills then we should simplify our game. I stand by that. One of the greatest failings in this current game plan is our inability to keep opposition sides under pressure. We just give them too many “get outs” and much of it is because the structure has weaknesses that become “player errors.” Amazingly, when Cheika was most successful at the Tahs he had a big ball running 8 in Palu and an abrasive, aggressive 6 in Potgieter (lock after Dennis was injured) coupled with a speedy hard working 7 in Hooper. Yet for some odd reason he seems to believe Test Rugby is so different that he can go without one or at times 2 of the key impact roles important to his early side’s success in favour of work rate and speed. I just firmly believe that Cheika has espoused the mythical “running ball in hand” game so much from his start that he simply won’t play the tighter traditional rugby that the available talent we have, would likely perform better.
Harry Jones
Expert
Cheers, Nick. The good news for your mob is they get to play the up-and-down-and-mostly-down Boklings, who usually only take the pitch with 400-500 caps. The bad news is this vintage of the Boks is (with the notable exception of Brisbane) taking their chances to score tries (almost 4 per game, with a couple of 5-try tests against good teams), so the WBs might have to score 4+ tries to win. That hasn't looked like happening in 2018 for the WB attack. Tries scored: 2-2-1-1-2-2-3 The WBs haven't won a lot of clean-fast rucks to build from: a range of 73 to 108 rucks per game (which is quite low compared to the other RC teams and Ireland) and many of those slowed. Line breaks have tended to come from turnovers.
Rugby wizard
Guest
Is the 23 that played Argentina stronger than this fantasy team on paper. Vs argentina fantasy team 1.Sio 1.slipper 2.Nau 2.Amosa 3.Aalatoa 3.Emile 4.Rodda 4.Philip 5.Coleman 5.Jones 6.Tui 6.Higgembotham 7.Pocock 7.Gill 8.Samu 8.Mcmahon 9.Genia 9.white 10.Beale 10.Barnes 11.Koroilbete 11.Parese 12.Tomua 12.Godwin 13.Hodge 13.AAC 14.Folau 14.Conor 15.DHP 15.Morahan Bench bench 16.Robertson 16.Vui 17.Faingaa 17.Saliva 18.Thor 18.Orr 19.Simmons 19.Fardy 20.Hanigan 20.Coterill 21.phibbs 21.gordan 22.banks 22.petai 23.Foley 23.cooper The only area I see team against Argentina stronger is front 3,but 4-8 they are weaker ,Barnes,Godwin and AAC are a better defensive unit and fantasy back 3 are a far greater threat in attack than wallabies What I like most about the fantasy team is they not flashy players, but they don't make silly errors and do the basics well,and all are very good defensively.
Habu
Roar Rookie
Good observation! I wonder if it is possible for RA scrap the contract top-up? And use that money to increase the match payment? So there's no excuse to continually select underperforming players in order to justify their wage and only the most deserving players can play in the gold jumper..
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Of those three I think White would be the best option. I doubt Henry would coach Australia and Cheika beat Lancaster in 2015, I don’t see how he would represent an improvement.
waxhead
Guest
Typo - lets call him Robertson :)
Goran
Roar Rookie
Agree with these players. I’ve never known why Higgers hasn’t been given a decent run. If fit he would add some much needed go forward and higher skill level to the team. And he’s a try scorer. Can someone reason with me how are Hanigan, Samu and Tui better options than Higgers (Fardy. McMahon, Dempsey all better than current crop as well).
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Interesting comment cliff and not a lot I disagree with. Folau at 15 was a stupid move and stopped DHP becoming a great FB a few years ago. If he is a one trick Pony and I don't know enough to disagree with you, then he has scored heaps of tries for the Wallabies. I was totally dismayed at the earlier RL players as they were paid a lot to learn the game. Even Lote T took some time to get into it but he got there. Most of the others did not. We need real speed on our wings and I would accept the compromise of Folau on the one wing he can pass from (your comment) and a youngster with great speed and ability on the other. Any ideas???
Realist
Guest
Chieka won’t want to give Banks a go as he’s from Qld. Pity the Reds are stupid enough to let players like him go but with Chieka picking his BFF Tahs over the likes of McMahon, Gill, Magnay etc these other dangerous players have also gone elsewhere to look for opportunities to make Test player $$
jeznez
Roar Guru
Just noticed. High praise indeed mixing up the Nick’s! :D