With Rugby Australia confirming Michael Cheika will coach the Wallabies at the Rugby World Cup in 2019, the focus shifts to his assistants.
Stephen Larkham, Simon Raiwalui and Nathan Grey are not enjoying the same certainty about the future of their roles. It is understood that Rugby Australia and Michael Cheika will meet in the near future to review the 2018 season thus far and decide amongst other things the fate of his assistants.
And why wouldn’t they?
Under the attack strategies of Stephen Larkham and defensive structures of Nathan Grey, the Wallabies simply have not been good enough. Scraping into third in the Rugby Championship and falling to seventh on the World Rugby rankings are not places the Wallabies are familiar with – and nor should they be.
Attacking and defensive woes coupled with the regression in the Wallaby lineout under the tutelage of ex-Fijian international Simon Raiwalui begs the question, does the current Wallaby coaching structure emphasise the fundamentals of rugby as a path to success?
In his recent interview on Fox Sports Kick and Chase, Michael Cheika was essentially asked in relation to the recent Salta test, what technical advice was given to the players at half-time to change the game plan? I was somewhat astonished in the coaches reply, “There was no technical information. They know how to play… ”
Michael Cheika explains the half-time spray that turned things around
I interpret this response as evidence that the players and the coaching staff have two differing philosophies on how to play the game. Prior to the second half in Salta, the Wallabies in all their preceding Rugby Championship matches were far too lateral when in possession.
They failed in a very basic fundamental of the game that is to actually go forward before seeking to play expansively.
There clearly had been an attacking strategy to attack in the wide channels yet it simply was not producing the points the Wallabies required. It appears the players were all too aware of it coming off the park at halftime 31-7 down.
When given the reins in the second half, the Wallaby players moved the ball forward with a directness and purpose that resulted in creating momentum and genuine space on the edges.
Furthermore, the Wallabies supported the ball player and looked to offload creating further pressure on the defence. All basic fundamentals of the game that ensured at full time they were victorious 45-34. An amazing effort and if the Wallabies are to return to a consistent successful brand of rugby clearly the second half at Salta must be the reference point.
The Wallabies completed the biggest comeback in Rugby Championship history
Legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi is quoted as saying, “Coaches who can outline plays on a blackboard are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their players and motivate.”
Clearly the Wallabies have a coach in Michael Cheika who has that ability to motivate but for the Wallabies to succeed in the near future there needs to be a greater emphasis on the fundamentals of the game and assistant coaches who embrace and drive such a philosophy.
In 1960 Vince Lombardi coached the Green Bay Packers to be runners up of the NFL championship after leading into the fourth quarter, yet somehow lost the game. Knowing the mental challenges this would cause his players in the off-season Lombardi devised a very simply plan for success by emphasising the basic fundamentals of the game of NFL as his cornerstone for success.
Upon return to pre-season training it is understood Lombardi addressed his players, some of the best in the land, holding a football in his hand on show and simply said, ‘Gentlemen, this is a football.’ Lombardi went on to forensically break down the basics of the game and the structures he wanted his team to play that season.
His team went on to defeat the New York Giants 37-0 to be win the 1961 NFL Championship. There is a lesson in this for Michael Cheika and his Wallabies.
Under Michael Cheika and his current assistants, the Wallabies have lost an appreciation for old rugby wisdom that you must play with field position and turn pressure into points, and furthermore take the points when they are on offer. In their loss against the Springboks in Port Elizabeth the Wallabies had sixty percent possession, with about a third of that in their opponents’ half.
The Wallabies gifted the home side an early avoidable try and additionally critically failed to kick a conversion and two penalties costing them eight points. This coupled with questionable captaincy of electing to kick for the corners when points were on offer is indicative of the Wallabies inability to convert pressure into points.
The Wallabies lost that match 23-12 and I suggest employing a greater appreciation for the fundamentals would have provided a winning result as opposed to a tormenting loss.
It’s not the Wallabies people mind, it’s the inconsistency. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
I foresee that the All Blacks will change little to their game plan when they take on the Wallabies in Japan later this month. They don’t need to.
However, it is the other matches on the northern tour where the Wallabies will be tested by the set piece and kicking game of the European sides.
While ten-man rugby is a thing of the past, running rugby has been embraced in Britain and Europe without forgoing the fundamentals rugby of having a strong set piece, playing with field position and taking points on offer as it is ageless wisdom and it works.
The 2017 northern tour was not a successful tour for the Wallabies who whittled mentally as the tour progressed.
In 2018 whilst under pressure Michael Cheika has admirably reminded the rugby public that tough times come and go but it is the tough who remain at the end of the day.
I would advise him of the wisdom of Indian businessman Naveen Tawiri who CEO and founder of InMobi who said, “In tough times, one has to see if the fundamentals of the business are good or not.”
Geoff Parkes
Expert
"I tend to think he and Fred Allen would find common ground on how to be a successful coach." Agree. Throw in Jack Gibson and you'd have a pretty handy threesome.
Nick Turnbull
Roar Guru
Afternoon Geoff and all, Busy day here in Brisbane and loving the much needed rain. Like you Lombardi pre-dates myself but he was a simple but effective man. I tend to think he and Fred Allen would find common ground on how to be a successful coach. Mate I’m a Boston fan far US sports so Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins Patriots etc. mind you I do follow Notre Dame in the college football. I think the assistants will keep thier jobs in the short term but if the upcoming tour is a flop all bets are off. Where is the National Coaching Committee? The bloke I understand who has been interviewed for the Chairman’s role is perfect. Head strong, independent thinker with low tolerance for BS. Refreshing!
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Nice read thanks Nick. Although Lombardi pre-dates me I'm a Packers man, having spent a fair bit of time in Milwaukee. Very excited too at the Brewers making the post-season playoffs. It's hard trying to make sense of what happened in Salta isn't it? Too bad and too good to believe, all at once.
Crash Ball2
Guest
*More #bringbackedit
Crash Ball2
Guest
"Since when did assistant coaches ever take the rap for the head coach?" Couldn't agree me. Michael Cheika lives in some invisible consequence and accountabilty-free forcefield; impenetrable to logic and unencumbered by the usual (ho-hum) professional coaching requirements of performance and results. Must be nice.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Confirmed because they are broke and don't have the money to pay him out let alone hire a new coach. I reckon even Hooper is sweating on every cheque he gets from Rugby Australia and hoping it clears. Sold nowhere near with tickets this Rugby Championship. Have not got the viewers to keep the sponsor happy. Lucky for many of the board they get a second salary from Fox Sports.
Realist271
Guest
Since when did assistant coaches ever take the rap for the head coach? Utterly bizarre but seems to be a feature of the Cheika era. We also got told by Cheika over the years that the players were not fit enough. He had time to sort that this year but performance went backwards. Who selects the side? The control and resources Cheika has had at his disposal are unprecedented. Cheika is constantly making excuses or his cronies in the press do it for him. He also throws tantrums but we are told he is passionate. I don't buy it. Anger can be a good emotion when it's channeled by a leader who inspires. Cheika comes across as a complete man-child and I would hate to be in a trench with him. Let's put a strong, benevelont, stern, competent, and stoic man in his place - for mine these are the real Wallaby qualities. A headmaster type like Graham Henry would be a good choice. Cut out the bs.
Wally
Guest
The thing is we were actually going backwards the 1st half in Salta. The Captain or VC on the park did not adjust the plan and straighten up. It heightened our lack of on field ‘real time’ rugby smarts. The South African game we did the same as Nick points out..... and when we could take points we went for line outs, then dropped the pill! It was fair dinkum like watching the under 15 E’s except I wasn’t standing on the sideline with the dog in one hand and a $2.50 fatty’s favourite in the other. Forget Cheika’s plan.....what’s RA’a plan apart from the next luncheon get together of overpaid directors!
brian
Guest
Pooper will decide the fate of the new coach
Wally
Guest
Leaving three and half years for the post Cheika love in, a new coach will decide the fate of Pooper. By the change of coach, we would have endured the larger part of Pocock’s best years, plying his trade not in his best position. Absolute travesty!
HiKa
Roar Rookie
That's a good summation of the Wallabies' riddle, Hoy.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
When they signed Hooper to a 5 year $6M deal.
Peter
Guest
Completely irrelevant, but let's assume Lower Slobbovian.
George
Guest
Australia is to critical in all their sport teams. Successful teams have coaches that last many years...for example the Pittsburgh Steelers...they have literally had three coaches since they started in the NFL....do they win the super bowl every year? Australian rugby critics keep beating a dead horse as opposed to getting out there doing some thing positive about it. Do yourself a favor and write something that will inspire kids to play rugby.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Yeah that is what I can't figure out, but neither answer is a happy ending for the Wallabies fans really... If swinging it wide early was the game plan in H1, then the whole coaching panel needs their heads read for having a basic misunderstanding of important aspects of the game or rugby... the age old forwards before sideways... but that was only half the issue in H1... lets not forget the defense was utterly atrocious, but has been for some years under Grey, just that now, he is fulltime atrocious. If swinging it wide wasn't the game plan, then it's almost worse, because that means pretty much every player in important positions within the Wallabies got carried away with themselves and were deluded into thinking they could go against a solid game plan or forwards first before sideways. This is just as bad, because despite being so stupid, and poor, they continue to be selected, because lets be honest, this isn't the first game that they have played against the old forwards first, then sideways... Either way, none of the coaches get away unsullied. Larkhams attack has been poor this year. Really poor. Greys defense has been about the same as it always was... really poor this year. Really poor. And the new Forwards coach? Well under him, our lineout has fallen apart, and our scrum is back to a bit iffy... You could almost forgive this bloke about the lineout, because he doesn't select the team and he has to work with what he has I guess, but the same applies for all of them... Leading to head coach... boy, where to start here. Selections, game plan, etc...
Massive Ferguson
Guest
What's Ray's nationality in this hypothetical?
Peter
Guest
Charlie, just for a laugh, tell us honestly, would you make the same remark if RA's CEO was Ray married to a female New Zealander? Nah, didn't think so.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Don, Argentina were complicit in their own capitulation. Who does Aunty Rae turn to for advice? According to wiki her partner is a Kiwi property investor, Greg Jones.....he's probably the most influential person in Australian rugby at the moment.
John
Guest
Good article Nick - thanks. I am yet to find someone explain to me what happened in Salta - whether the players followed the coaches' plan in H1 and the tirade was against the game plan, or whether the players were ignoring the game plan in H1 and were finally blasted sufficiently that they decided to follow it in H2. Which it is determines who we should be pissed off with. As for Cheika's ability to motivate, are you sure about that? Their record this year sucks. Their record last year sucks. Have our standards fallen so low?
Don
Roar Rookie
You are spot on with Cheika’s flawed “go wide” philosophy Nick. And it was great to actually see a different strategy in the second half albeit likely directed by the players. A nice change from the usual Cheika plan B which is just plan A again with a few different players...