Here is my open letter to Michael Cheika, the embattled head coach of the Wallabies.
G’day Michael Cheika,
Firstly, thank you for your enthusiasm and hard work with the current Wallabies.
No one should doubt your dedication and your belief in what you have been doing.
Your passion is obvious – as is the passion of so many Wallaby fans.
However, there does come a time, if such attributes are not rewarded with results, that one must question why the results have been so poor. Much was made of the reaching of the last RWC final in 2015, including the defeat of England on home soil.
But that English team seemed to be dispirited (they did not progress out of the pool stage) and lacking in any constructive ideas. And, let’s be honest, the Wallabies would not have progressed any further had it not been for a refereeing error against Scotland.
You seemed to blame some of the 2017 results on the fact that our Super Rugby teams of 2017 were not fit. It would seem that they were fitter this year?
Mr. Cheika, it also seems that Rugby Australia have granted most of your requests this year.
If I may, I would like to analyse these one by one below:
1. Sole selector
While it is doubtful if, say, ten experts, would totally agree when picking their top 23, there are so many obvious faults with your selections.
Many other Roar fans have pointed out what they see as poor selections that I will not add my thoughts here, other than to say that there is one very obvious poor Cheika selection.
I don’t wish to belittle the player (who might come good down the track), but I particularly watched a replay of Ned Hanigan’s game against the Boks and, I am sorry to say, he was virtually ineffective (yet he was left of the field for the entire 80 minutes).
Ned Hanigan of the Wallabies. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
2. Skills coach
I was horrified that players of an international standard would need a skills coach to address faults that should have been corrected at schoolboy level. You wanted to employ Mick Byrne as skills coach but since then there has been no obvious improvement in the players’ skills. In some cases they seem to have deteriorated!
3. Specialist backs/attack coach
During his playing days, Steve Larkham was in a group of my all-time favourite Wallabies – a truly fantastic player, with great vision.
He was such a ‘natural’ that Rod Macqueen (I think) was able to move him from full-back to fly-half so quickly and successfully at international level.
However, it is possible that his skills came so naturally to Larkham that he is unable to pass on such skills to his players. Being a fantastic player does not necessarily transfer to being a great coach.
I compare that to the fact that brilliant academics rarely make great teachers, since such great minds usually cannot see the difficulties that face their pupils.
Stephen Larkham was a natural on the field – but can he coach? (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
4. Specialist forward coach
The fabulous Fijians are noted for their great attacking flair – not for their tight forward play.
One must therefore question why a Fijian was chosen as forwards coach after Mario Ledesma took charge of the Pumas?
5. Defence coach
We are obviously missing far too many tackles per game. Add to that, the number of times tries were scored against us by teams having the overlap (therefore no missed tackles as such), and it is clear that something is very wrong.
Persons much more knowledgeable than I have given various reasons for this.
Rugby World Cup 2019
Unless there is urgent action taken, it is possible that we may not even progress out of our pool.
Wales are overdue for a win against us, let’s hope that it is not in 2019, and the Fiji Drua are sweeping most teams before them in the current NRC with players selected from various villages in Fiji.
They will be so much stronger by the time of the World Cup when their professional, hardened players, now playing overseas, join them.
There are difficult times for Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
In conclusion I’d like to say a sincere thanks for your efforts with the Wallabies, but I cannot see real improvements under your methods.
You even virtually admitted that you don’t have a Plan A, let alone a Plan B, when interviewed on Fox’s Kick and Chase a few weeks ago.
You claimed there that you mostly worried about how your team would play, and that it was bad to be thinking too much about the opposition.
If you really care as much as I think you do about the success of the Wallabies, please do the right thing and step down after the Pumas game this weekend.
And please take your assistants with you.
That would at least give an incoming coaching panel some chance on the November Spring Tour to turn things around.
Thank you.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well actually Fionn many people did complain he wasn’t physical enough during the Rugby Championship. But there were not an abundance of complaints simply because his, and Fardy’s opportunities came about due to injuries to Higginbotham, Pocock, McCalman, Palu, etc.
OracleRugby
Roar Rookie
100% Young Man, by way of my website and youtube channel I have been asking the question Is Cheika still employed? I have to say though thsi will be his LAST GAME, Argentina will wipe the floor with this Aussie Bunch. Watch this space
glider
Guest
jeezuz - nucifora was part of the problem .........asked to do an "internal" review a few years ago and came up with the latest plan: their have been related comments about involvement in white anting deans
glider
Guest
Send your comment direct to the ARU - i already did; a great article from NZ written some years ago about the absolute must and need for young up and coming rugby players to play grade and get schooled by the old guard and get a does of humility along the way. We dont need any more STAR players as so many roar poster's seem to think will be the saviour of the wallabys. Send them everything you have - any suggestions any feedback , any comment - only a ground swell of public opinion will wake them up to the harsh facts & the truth. As someone else said and i have said before - a high performance team in the corporate world travelling at this level of success on this type of salary would have been hauled before the MD and the CEO; Board would be leaning on them all; No results, no plan, no customer sat and a rapidly diminishing audience - the whole Team would be asked for a please explain because his finances and bottom line are not adding up. from the Haka website printed in 2008. So many home truths for NZ rugby which apply to Aust right now; especially young players not playing club rugby and bypass straight to academies. http://haka.co.nz/the-guiding-principles-of-nz-rugby-3/
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
And Fardy left because Cheika told him he wasn’t needed for the 2019 RWC, Nic White headed overseas for similar reasons.....he cannot escape scrutiny for his sometimes bewildering, apparently partisan, decisions.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I actually explained the Pocock situation to my 6 year old cousin and she understood it, Jacko. Might be time to stop trying to push that line when 6 year olds can see the truth... Unless, goodness forbid, you cannot actually comprehend that which a 6 year old can...
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
I've see you push this line before, but, no, I really don't think we would. First, your comment assumes there is a better option. Who is better than him as a 6/8? Hanigan? Mumm? Tui the lock? Hooper or Pocock the 7? Second, funny how no one was complaining he wasn't good enough back in 2013 when he was captaining the Wallabies.
Marlins Tragic
Guest
Agree with the other poster about this team, I’ve made a few little changes to my 2019 RWC hope: (1) Scott Sio (2) Tatafu Polota-Nau (3) Sekope Kepu (4) Will Skelton (5) Adam Coleman (6) Scott Fardy (7) David Pocock (8) Scott Higginbotham (9) Will Genia (10) Foley (11) Banks/Maddocks (12) Matt To’omua (13) Reece Hodge/Tevita Kuridrani (14) Israel Folau (15) Kurtley Beale RES: (16) BPA (17) Toby Smith (18) Taniela Tupou (19) Matt Phillip (20) Michael Hooper (21) Jake Gordon (22) Tevita Kuridrani/Banks (23) Quade Cooper
adam smith
Guest
Was that “tongue-in-cheek” TWAS?! I’m pretty certain there are lots of people on the Roar, “complaining about a captain who isn’t good enough instead?”????????
Don
Roar Rookie
Where’s the benefit in bringing back TPN this year? We’ve actually delayed the development of good young guys by doing it and we had no lack of talent in the position. Toomua is probably a positive in that we have injuries at 12 and no depth at 10. But his inclusion hasn’t translated to good results. But I really struggle to find an example of a player brought back under the Giteau law who has made a contribution to the side beyond what an existing Aus based player would have done. And the guys Cheika has actively recruited back to Australia who had OS contracts haven’t done much either. Kurtley might be the exception. Then we went and recruited Koroibete and Samu from outside of Aus Rugby and both play in positions we have good depth and at least 3 or 4 better options from SR who don’t have ARU contracts.
Jacko
Guest
haha...No the one where they paid him 3 years pay for 2 years play...that one
John Wagner
Roar Rookie
As a Rugby friend of mine pointed out to me, the fact that over 50 "Roarers" saw fit to make a comment, and that there were almost 5,000 "reads", shows that the fans, although frustrated and possibly annoyed, DO CARE about the Wallabies.!! I would now like to close the discussion by thanking all who commented (including those who did not agree with my views ---- but at no time, Reverse Wheel and Tim, did I hide behind anonymity as you suggested). One major point that I would like to stress, if I may, is that, irrespective of the result against the Pumas this weekend, there will be more calls to sack our National Coach. I am not a fan of sacking a coach (especially after the way that Robbie Deans was dismissed) , so that is why I have suggested that it would be in the best interests of himself, the Wallabies, and Rugby Australia, if Michael Cheiks simply stood down. Thanks again to The Roar for providing a "platform", and to All "Roarers" who contributed to this discussion,
Ted Howard
Guest
The game this weekend will be played at altitude. The Pumas are training at altitude, the Wallabies are training at sea level. Whoever made that decision should be added to the list of decision makers in line for the chop.
piru
Roar Rookie
No it wouldn't
ooooo ahhhhh
Guest
" WTF is wrong with Australian RUGBY " on Facebook is where people don’t get to hide behind anonymity and are held accountable for what they say. See you there soon. I`m already on it. Remember they don't accept fake Facebook profiles.
Chad
Guest
I read an article today that said that some of the wallabies didn’t know that they were playing at altitude. Thought the reporter was sticking him up.. Also in said article it said the wallabies weren’t training at altitude. If you need anymore of an indication that we have the wrong coaches and administration look no further. Being 1.2km above sea level takes getting used to even for just walking around, but to ask players to play 80 minutes of high intensity rugby with out getting your body used to it is mind boggling. Michael Cheika you need to go. And the administration that doesn’t see a problem with this as well? Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.
John Wagner
Roar Rookie
Thanks for your insightful comments, Roy. Totally agree with you about the lineout problems etc. ! However the MAIN gist of my letter was to identify the EFFECTIVENESS or otherwise of the Situations that RA had created for Michael Cheika -- Sole Selector, Skills Coach, Attack & Defence Assistant Coaches etc, --- Most of which were probably requested by Mr. Cheika. It is up to far greater minds than mine to comment on the actual TACTICS that he employed - So I'll leave that to others. Again, irrespective of the results v the Pumas this weekend, the calls for his sacking will still be there --- esp. if a new coaching panel is to be appointed to prepare for the RWC. I don't like sackings (esp. the way Robbie Deans was dismissed), so that is why I suggest that Michael Cheika would do the best thing by himself, the Wallabies, and RA if he simply steps down.
Atapene
Roar Rookie
Honestly I feel for the guy because he obviously tries hard but Phipps whole career is an inditement of the current scene in Aus rugby. A halfback that can't pass, makes it to the Tahs and then the Wallabies and stays there for years. It's crazy.
Dan in Devon
Guest
The immediate solution is not to get rid of Cheika but to change the structure/ football department around him. Relieve him of selection duties and bring in a new defence coach and an assistant to work with him and sit with him during match days. I call that the Collingwood solution!
In Brief
Guest
Anyone who thinks changing coach will change this team's fortunes is probably better suited to pocket billiards than rugby.