Wallaby coach Michael Cheika is one on the most switched-on blokes in rugby.
Nobody can turn his fashion company into a multi-million dollar business, speak fluent French, Italian, and Arabic, be the only rugby coach in history to mentor major tournament victories in both hemispheres – Leinster for the 2009 Heineken Cup, the Waratahs in the 2014 Super Rugby – and throw in reaching the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, if he’s a dork.
Fast forward and the Wallabies have never finished last in the Rugby Championship, and already have slipped to seventh in the world ranking, their worst ever position.
If the Pumas win on Sunday morning (AEST) by 16 or more points, the Wallabies will finish last, and be ranked eighth.
The pits.
Even for inept Rugby Australia, that will be serious consideration time to terminate the contracts of Cheika, and his staff, a year out from the Rugby World Cup.
That’s why it’s so hard to understand why Cheika keeps selecting Wallabies out of form, and out of position, so often.
He’s playing a very dangerous game of Russian roulette, but keeps saying the pain is worth it in the long run.
If he’s punted, however, the pain hasn’t been worth a cent, with Wallaby fans voting with their feet through lack of interest.
Constantly losing does that.
Some sanity has returned for the all-important Puma clash with Bernard Foley back at 10 as Matt Toomua was never going to be a reliable goal-kicking option, and Kurtley Beale at 12, but there are still selections that rankle.
The ‘Pooper’ experiment has long run its race, the locks keep being rotated so there’s no stability, the hookers are a problem, where best to assign powerhouse prop Taniela Tupou, Ned Hanigan and Nick Phipps are still around, while the Israel Folau-Dane Haylett-Petty fullback fiasco is very current, and very critical.
The ‘Pooper’ experiment only surfaced because Michael Hooper can’t play anywhere else but seven, even though David Pocock is by far the better option.
Rob Simmons and Adam Coleman are the best lock options because Simmons is the senior, and better, lineout caller, leaving Izack Rodda and Rory Arnold on the outer.
The hooking problem surfaces with inconsistent lineout feeding, and there’s little between Folau Fainga’a, Tolu Latu, and Brandon Paenga-Amosa with Tatafu Polota-Nau out of the picture.
Taniela Tupou is not a starter, he’s far more effective off the bench when he can throw his massive 135 kgs around in the last telling 30-35 minutes when opponents are knackered.
What Cheika sees in Hanigan and Phipps defies description when there’s Angus Cottrell, and Jake Gordon, playing tourists.
Cottrell was a laydown misere to wear the six jumper when Lukhan Tui stayed at home.
Cottrell had consistently strong showings for the Rebels where he wore that jumper eight times in 14 starts in Super Rugby, while Gordon is sharp with accurate service and deserving of a crack among the elite, and should have been the Waratahs number one halfback all season.
The Folau-Haylett-Petty fiasco only surfaced when Folau was injured, and it should have been canned on Folau’s return.
Folau is the best in world rugby at the high ball, he’s the faster, more dangerous, and better footballer in general play, and the senior player.
There’s also no comparison when it comes to try-scoring ability.
I sincerely hope Michael Cheika’s squad wins for the sake of Australian rugby, and his own career.
I have my doubts.
But I have no doubts whatsoever that the alternative squad can not only get the job done, but break the Wallaby try-scoring drought.
Bernard Foley will do the rest.
(1) Scott Sio
(2) Brandon Paenga-Amosa
(3) Allan Alaalatoa
(4) Rob Simmons
(5) Adam Coleman
(6) Angus Cottrell
(7) David Pocock (c)
(8) Caleb Timu
(9) Will Genia
(10) Bernard Foley
(11) Marika Koroibete
(12) Kurtley Beale
(13) Reece Hodge
(14) Dane Haylett-Petty
(15) Israel Folau
(16) Folau Fainga’a
(17) Sekope Kepu
(18) Taniela Tupou
(19) Izack Rodda
(20) Michael Hooper
(21) Jake Gordon
(22) Matt Toomua
(23) Tom Banks
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
And references to being the only coach to win Northern and Southern Hemisphere titles, who invented that measure? Creating a winning Wallaby team would be more impressive.
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
Gold
kristaylor
Guest
Best to start at hooker. McGrath and Healy, 2 Lions that have both been considered by many as the best loosehead in the world at different times. Sio would struggle here but... Furlong is the best tighthead in the world. Henderson, Toner and Ryan vs Coleman, Arnold and Simmons? I would pick Coleman and Ryan. O'Mahony would start at 6 and Stander at 8. Murray would start over Genia but mainly because Genia suits "impact player" better. Sexton would start. I think Beale and Hodge would struggle to get a start and I would suggest that only Folau would be garanteed a start in the back 3. My 23. 1 Healy 2 Best 3 Furlong 4 Coleman 5 Ryan 6 O'Mahony 7 Pocock 8 Stander 9 Murray 10 Sexton 11 Stockdale 12 Henshaw 13 Ringrose 14 Folau 15 Kearney 16 Cronin 17 McGrath 18 Tupou 19 Henderson 20 Hooper 21 Genia 22 Foley 23 Larmour
Banjo Kelly
Roar Rookie
Yes all these predictions have been made. The best coaches can see a positional change that will make an excellent player out of a competent player. These decisions are made at schoolboy level or club level. Larkham is the rare case at international level. The other was Kurtley Beale’s move to fullback. A position would now played 40 test in had Folau not been signed.
ojp
Guest
Careful there Themistocles, that sort of talk is liable to get one Ostracised :)
Divided Loyalties
Roar Rookie
Totally... just as Brad Thorn has little understanding of back play, but should recognise that deficiency and employ an assistant who does.
Divided Loyalties
Roar Rookie
Totally agree... Not a deep thinker... Certainly no tactician.
Kiwikrs
Guest
I too thought there would be more on that. Was hoping there would be a few in the know that might be able to shed some more light on it all
QED
Guest
Sefa Naivalu 10.5 sec for 100m
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Possibly but Samu played there when Hooper was injured. It’s a clear tactic which all teams use a variation of in some way. Hence why the All Blacks often have Dane Coles on the wing when he plays.
Snoop Bloggy blog
Roar Rookie
The Wallabies need to lose this game so Cheika has to be sacked. It’s gone beyond bad and it’s his doing. Hooper, Foley, Folau, Phipps, Hannigan, Beale have to be dropped or benched and forced to work their way back into the side. The new coach needs to destroy the status quo and open the door to some overseas players and youngsters to get an honest crack. The Wallabies are such an embarrassment and the worst thing is Cheika’s arrogance/ignorance towards the situation.
double agent
Guest
FOX. I too was wondering what the hell Cheika's business and linguistic achievements had to do with coaching an international rugby team. Not a lot apparently.
double agent
Guest
Unbelievably good post sheek.
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Sheek, Yes mate, 100% correct. And the forwards are called a pack for a reason. "They hunt as a pack"! I think an old Rugby League Coach of mine used to say those same words but he was a different vintage - and I was Under 18's - old Herb Steinohrt, one of the toughest props to play the game. Played for Australia 1928 to 1932.
Frustrated
Guest
Turn Pocock into a hooker. Problem solved.
David Lord
Expert
Fox, I was waiting for you to trot out the old chestnut of "You are only as good as your last game". Which translates to Don Bradman couldn't bat. But you are clearly know him on a personal level.
Fox
Roar Guru
"Nobody can turn his fashion company into a multi-million dollar business, speak fluent French, Italian, and Arabic..." What is gods name has that got to do with being a good international rugby coach? " There is no parallel there whatsoever. And coaching two club sides to championships is like being a player in championship side who often don't cut it at international level - so it does not mean by definition you have what it takes to be a consistently astute winning international coach and Cheika's record since the 2015 WC final DL - a final he was lucky to make with Scotland having plenty of reasons to feel stiffed by the ref and we all know what Cheika would have been saying if it was the other way round DL so spare me - but his record is very poor since the 20!5 WC and dreadful against the likes of Scotland , Ireland, NZ and England...He has illustrated that he cannot make the grade as an international coach by producing consistent performances against the world's best sides and his away record is rubbish in recent times as well. You are clearly know him on a personal level and it is clouding you judgement my friend. Look what Erasmus has done with Boks in how much time???
Neil
Guest
Other than your views on Simmons, who should have been put out to pasture a long time ago, some valid points, David.
Kane
Roar Guru
Or is he simply following his coaches 1-3-3-1 plan?
Win Loss 50
Guest
Agree re Powel and Gordon. Presumably three halves go to Japan but at this stage Powel and Gordon are just too underdone. And beyond 2019 we'll have relatively green halfbacks in rotation once Phips and Genia move on.