Before reading this article, let me make something clear: I’m writing this piece before tonight’s Wallabies match against the Springboks so that I can’t be accused of being part of the pack.
With that in mind, I make the following forecast.
- The Wallabies will be well beaten by the Boks.
- The Wallabies will contribute to the loss through a lack of basic skills.
- Michael Cheika will have a number of his customary coaching box meltdowns
- In the post-match press conference Cheika’s line will be at least one, if not all, of the following: (a) we were unlucky because we did not take our chances; (b) the boys did well but either we did not get enough possession or our defence let us down at some crucial moments; or (c) some key decisions did not go our way.
- Cheika will go through the familiar line of how proud he is of his boys and how there is no questioning their commitment.
- Michael Hooper will make similar noises but will not contribute any meaningful commentary on the Wallabies performance.
I hope none of the above comes to pass, in particular a sound defeat. For the record I have supported – that is, I have paid good money to attend – Wallabies test matches for almost 40 years, and that includes some occasional offshore sorties.
I am pretty much done with the Wallabies and in particular with Michael Cheika. In an interesting piece in the Saturday Sydney Morning Herald ahead of the Boks test Cheika is quoted extensively by Tom Decent. My take on Cheika’s comments is basically ‘I know and the lads know where we are headed, and although things aren’t going 100 per cent our way, we know best’.
In short, you can all get stuffed.
(Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
This is a large part of the Cheika conundrum. We are well advanced in a siege mentality, which suits Cheika and his personality. We know he is abrasive. He was renowned in his playing days for being Randwick’s enforcer. His demeanour and basic instincts have not changed or varied.
The current criticism of his performance has produced a number of responses from Cheika, including invoking the ‘Buckley’ defence, namely that Nathan Buckley, despite having a very poor 2017 year in charge of Collingwood, was backed by club president Eddie McGuire and made the grand final this year.
But what in fact happened was that Collingwood undertook a very comprehensive end-of-season review in 2017. Buckley received some strong messages, not least of which related to his personal demeanour in and around the players and supporters. In 2018 the AFL experts have observed a material change in his manner, and not just since Collingwood got on a roll.
He has lightened up, he has relaxed, he has relinquished and/or delegated powrr to his assistants, a number of whom were replaced after 2017. Are you getting the picture?
Cheika is apparently a protected species so far as Rugby Australia is concerned. He believes, maybe correctly, that they need him more than he needs them. He gives the appearance of not listening to anyone, especially anyone critical or questioning of him.
I suggest Cheika’s one-dimensional approach to coaching, his lack of creativity, his blind commitment to certain favoured sons, the chronic lack of basic skills – most of the Wallabies backline appears incapable of passing on their wrong side – the persistently poor defence of our national team and the lack of accountability all make a powerful case for sacking Cheika. Remember that Cheika took over as head coach 12 months before the last World Cup, so that reason for not sacking him does not play.
At this stage I really don’t care who takes over so long as it is not either of the assistants. Of course this will not happen and our national team and hence rugby in Australia generally will become further diminished and decreasingly relevant in the national sporting scene. Tragic.
Neil Watson
Guest
Agree whole heartedly, and sadly, with every word written here, and written more eloquently than I could ....
conrad brown
Guest
You are so right,.. Australian Rugby is a mess and we are still divided by the in fighting and rose colored views of the states and the jobs for the boys Mentally. Apart from the ability to produce world class players in every position NZ Rugby has there back of house in ship shape order and that is a major influence on the National team. Until we get our heads out of our back sides we are going to get exactly what we are getting.
System of a Downey Jr
Roar Rookie
I don't know why journalists bother asking Cheika questions anymore. He's defensive, aggressive and doesn't offer any analytics of a game in any insighful way. They should just boycott by asking nothing during the press conference. What's to lose? Hansen discusses analysis, Erasmus and Ledesma are brutally honest but none of them are angry about questions journalists ask them.
Well Bill, Australia wasn't well beaten. Yes they were more error prone than SA who themselves were inaccurate at crucial times, you could reason that Australia could have won had they been more accurate, but then you could also argue SA could have won more comfortably had they finished more moves. In my opinion Wallabies lost because they make poor decisions, they have lost their innate ability to recognise moments that turn a match. There are times where you simply have to keep the score board ticking over, especially when your opposition realised that thrmselves, what South Africa did correct here was they built scoreboard pressure, Australia declined to do that. Another example of poor decision making is if your line out is not functioning why kick for the forner? Late in the second half Australia started to recognise their scrum is gaining ascendancy and started to use it. I do think Australia has given Cheika enough chance now, time to bring in someone else (Perhaps Jake White?) I don't think there is much wrong with Australia's players, but the new coach might recognise combinations Cheika simply refuses to see. I also think there is a disconnect with thr Australian pack, it isn't physicality that is lacking, but synergy. Anyway, get a new coach.
Steve Schwarz
Guest
"I am pretty much done with the Wallabies and in particular with Michael Cheika". Unfortunately, you're not alone. There is a very good reason why I no longer attend Wallabies matches ... and it's typified by the game against the Boks. You wouldn't mind the loss if they actually looked to be competitive ... but the Wallabies are miles away from that. Cheika has not moved from his one-dimensional game plan since taking over, and we can look forward to a continuing tumble down world rankings (meaning more loses) while this continues.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
So Robbie Deans wasn’t the plant after all
hearditallbefore
Guest
no mate, the 7 was playing #8. Why doesn't he put Hooper on at 10 and at least get him outa Poey's way?
Hearditallbefore
Guest
Hit the nail firmly and skillfully on the head, Bill. That's exactly how i feel and I'm so disenfranchised I am going to watch the mungo this evening and will start following a team next year. It's an absolute rabble - take a bow ARU.
enoughisenough
Roar Rookie
The reason for the silence on Cheika is that they were part of the coup that installed Cheika. Remember the despicable whispering campaign against McKenzie, and the defence of Beales actions against Patson? Cheika is their man, and they are not big enough to admit that they've reaped what they have sown. Look at the level of delusion shown by both Cheika and his captain. They believe they are on the right path, and are not going to deviate. Hooper is proud of where his team are!
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Another question of importance. Why are the Australian Rugby Journalists like Decent and Georgina and Smith, not asking the serious and thought provoking questions of both Cheika and RA? This is not happening!
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
There is a conundrum. but where is the cause? The top of the chain for coaching is Cheika. The buck stops with him. The question re: assistants is this, are they being allowed to do their role? Forwards: Under Ledesma, our scrum improved. Yet since his departure it has not maintained the level of solidarity. Why? Is the new assistant not of the standard to coach scrum skills? I think not. But when taught by one of the best, and improved greatly, the next question is; have the forwards forgotten what they have learnt? Defence & tackling: There is nothing to say on this. Gray must exit and never return. His defensive patterns are ridiculous. As for the tackling, or skill of tackling, is easily solved if the Coaches do it. Every day - 20 minutes tackling in a sand pit with an ex league player. When I went to Uni, I was a leaguie and then played rugby and I could tackle. But our Coach got us on three occasions early in the season - 20 minutes in a sand pit with the Great Ripper Doyle teaching all of us the skills of tackling at all angles. It worked. Attacking Play: One of Australia's greatest attacking No. 10s and backline organiser, Larkham, is not delivering. Why? There are 3 possibilities; (I) it is either Cheika not allowing him to plan moves and systems, or (ii) the players are too damn dumb to understand and catch on and implement, or (iii) Larkham is just not up to it, and must go, great player, poor Coach. Decisions need to be made sensibly. But IMHO, a total clean out is needed.
Laurence King
Roar Rookie
On the whole, the players are playing worse under him and his support team, than they were back in their respective super teams. Poor coaching, poor selections in regard to coaching and a team totally lacking in self-belief. And I'm not talking about the spin they come out with in front of the media, it is simply evident in the way they play. 1. Cheika's gotta go, and so has his support staff. The new forwards coach especially out of his depth. 2.Foley, Beale, Koriebete, Hannigan have to go back and play NRC 3.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
The thing that is now really worrying me is that the form of key players is starting to tank, which now makes the next coach's job about recovery and repair, as well as putting in place coherent coaching around defence, attack and selection. It is a ground up repair job of mammoth proportions. This has the potential to further limit the coaching options to someone who is good at rebuilding. Jake White has form in this regard. Rennie did a good job at Waikato but I don't recall them being the basket case that Oz now are. What a mess.
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
I’ve heard of flankers being referred to as “wing forwards”, maybe Hooper and Cheika has misinterpreted this.
Dummy Scissors
Guest
The ARU is trapped in a Faustian pact, with a bloke they can’t get rid of, who’s driving fans away. The horror, the horror ...
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
'At this stage I really don’t care who takes over so long as it is not either of the assistants.' I agree with all except this part. While virtually any change would be a positive one, I would hope we'd get someone like Jake White who has the runs on the board at international level, and whose game plan is easy to learn in a short period of time. His approach would make an immediate and positive impact on the Wallabies.
baz
Guest
Something is not right when Hooper gets more attacking opportunities on the wing than Folau. Aus need to get forwards driving forward near the ball and then earn the right to spread it wide. We need to have number 10 playing the role of first receiver - ie regularly getting the first pass from the ruck. This is not hard or complicated. The boks did it and it worked - pulled the defense in then send it wide. Forwards need to be chasing the ball - not enough at cleanout. Some positive - Scrum was good, but Cheika needs to go and I dont say that with relish
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Imagine if we’d had a winger playing wing last night and a 7 playing 7 .
enoughisenough
Roar Rookie
How sad but true. If Cheika had any honour he'd quit, and take some of his preferred players with him. The Wallabies captain spent so much time on the wing, it was surely part of the plan? And don't get me started on the brain dead play behind the gain line, again and again and again.....And Foley coming on and thinking (?) more panic was the answer? And Beale, the national treasure? And Hannigan? Time for a real clean-out. Cheika and his cohorts are surely as out of time as they are ideas.