“Players… they read all that stuff.” Michael Cheika’s admission that the Wallabies get rattled by a bit of social media sledging is as refreshing as it is troubling.
Following Australia’s stunning game-of-two-halves win over Argentina a fortnight ago, Cheika was frank in conceding that some honest external appraisals of his side’s woeful form – a run that had led to a slide in the world rankings to No.7 – had taken its toll.
“I’m not really up on social media or media, I don’t really read a lot of it, but players do, you know, they read all that stuff,” Cheika said on the Fox Rugby Podcast last week.
“It gets in their head and it hasn’t been going great and so they don’t think they’re great and then as soon as something happens in the game, negative, which it did early on, you start to get a bit narrow in your view and you start to fear failing — as opposed to going out there to do what you need to do to perform.”
It’s novel and welcome to hear a coach admit that elite professional sportspeople listen to judgement from the outside – from the so-called experts in the mainstream media to the well-considered opinions of rugby tragics and even to the foul-mouthed rants of the furious.
Of course the players hear the noise. There’s hardly anything more irritating than the ridiculous ‘we don’t read the newspapers’ cliché from the coach or player when asked for a reaction to a pertinent issue on the sporting agenda.
It’s farcical to think that they can block it all out. And more importantly, it would be concerning if they did.
To hide underground, to cocoon away from public opinion is feeble and disingenuous. Fans want to know the players and coaches feel something, especially during a tough streak. If the fans are hurting, they want to be heard.
The sporting public doesn’t want players and coaches to be cold and robotic. Fans want to know they give a toss.
Before a Test match, no Wallabies player needs to carry on with the idiotic antics of Conor McGregor before a title fight. But at the same time no one wants to hear another player pretend they have no idea how they’re perceived on the outside. Plus why not use the online criticism as motivation to turn things around?
On top of this, surely Australia’s rugby elite – big bruising men who whack and get whacked by other hard-hitting humans such as Brodie Retallick and Eben Etzebeth – have the resilience to shrug off any flak they cop online, as brutal as it is these days.
Australian coach Michael Cheika (AAP Image/Darren England)
The worrying part of Cheika’s confession is that the Wallabies – supposedly fully aware that Australian rugby fans were livid with their woeful recent record – were so limp in the opening half against Argentina in Salta.
The Wallabies were facing the prospect of bagging the Rugby Championship wooden spoon with another loss, and had recorded just two wins from their 11 previous Tests.
Wasn’t this the time to step up with an aggressive attitude and set the tone, at least defensively? If they had read even a slither of comments on social media, the Wallabies would’ve known the fans at least wanted to see some pride in defending their line.
Instead the Pumas busted the Wallabies open with ease. The home side sped to a 31-7 half-time lead. Defence is commonly viewed as a reflection of attitude – and it was pretty flimsy.
We all know what happened next following Cheika’s spray at the break. It’s alarming that it took such a dreadful 40 minutes to whip the Wallabies into action.
And so we’re back to roughly where we were last year: with the dead-rubber Bledisloe III as a chance for the Wallabies to prove they haven’t slipped too far off the pace. Twelve months ago, the Wallabies forwards went up a gear and showed that if there’s a spark, they can match it physically with the All Blacks.
Jack Dempsey and Lukhan Tui were particularly stinging in contact in a memorable 23-18 win in Brisbane.
It was a display that reflected genuine desire to demonstrate the Wallabies had plenty of pride, and breaking their defensive line would take something special.
They need a repeat in Yokohama next weekend if Cheika wants Aussie fans to believe he’s the man for the job, and that means extracting that Salta second-half magic from the first blow of the whistle.
John Wagner
Roar Rookie
I could not agree more, Stillmissit ! While Deans did make some mistakes - e.g. inability to control the self-styled three amigoes, (why did the ARU not step in here?) and like all coaches, a few unusual selections, he was a very good coach who, despite being a Kiwi, had the very best interests of the Wallabies at heart. Also, I am told, he gave individual players additional (long overdue) coaching to correct basic errors . The way that he was dismissed (following the deplorable rantings of G. Martin & co.) was a real blot on the ARU, and has probably ensured that no top overseas coach would ever apply for the Wallaby job in the future! What we Wallaby supporters would now give to be #2 again, --- as you state that we were under Robbie Deans.!!
jeznez
Roar Guru
:D
Kiwikrs
Guest
What else is laughable is that the unwanted Scott Fardy was awarded the spirit of rugby award in Australia this year...
Keilidh
Roar Rookie
I’d like to see an analysis of the transition from attack to defence and vice versa, they must be covering huge distances just to get into position. It’s not surprising they are tiring and mistakes are happening. The waste of the bench is also ridiculous, the ‘finishers’ getting five minutes of game time, why aren’t they getting a chance to change the game?
moaman
Roar Guru
Er.....the roads? ;-)
Uncle Eric
Guest
Having read all the comments to date, the collective finger of blame seems to be pointed first at Cheika then secondly at his selections and lastly at the skills deficit in Australian Rugby. Little has been written about RA's performance, specifically the board. To me it appears that RA is taking a top down approach to the code, support the coach unequivocally (as the board appointed him I guess they have to) and make sure the 'image' players, Hooper, Folau, Foley, Hannigan, Beale et al feature prominently in the Wallaby set up. Add to this the ludicrous contract for Hooper, the seeming desperation to retain Folau and to persevere with the same core of players, the decision to axe the Western Force and a litany of other poor decisions made by the board and coach and we now see Rugby as a basket force code in Australia and the Wallabies rapidly becoming a laughing stock team. In my view there is only one solution. Dissolution of the board of RA and a gathering of the stakeholders to establish a new strategic plan for Rugby in Australia. Anything has to be an improvement on the low speed train wreck we are now witnessing. Problem is, who will lead the revolution?
Piripiri
Guest
Really?? So it’s the media’s fault now??
Jacko
Guest
i dont think that will be the case...They are even saying today that Retallick may be available after earlier thinking he wouldnt so i think the Bled 3 will be a Top ABs side. The ABs will remember last Bled 3s loss and wont want that
Crash Ball2
Guest
It's beginning hard to unravel one piece of twisted, smoking metal from another in this abject car crash. I'm honestly not sure Fionn.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Away from thsi, it appears the meeting this afternoon decided to carry on with the status quo. All coaches totally supported by the board.
ForwardsWinMatches
Guest
Benefit of doubt - regime goon - he’s only committed to one more contracted year because he can see the writing on the wall?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
So, is Foley delusional or just a regime goon?
Crash Ball2
Guest
Gave me a good laugh MM. Thanks. - Had enough, eh? - Look, you stupid b*****d, you've got no arms left! On the positive side, rugby.com.au is reporting that RA has really ripped a chunk out of Michael Cheika based on several seasons of abject Wallabies displays at today's coaching review meeting. Cameron Clyne: “You have to be unequivocal. We're supporting him absolutely.” RA are finally implementing some clear and transparent KPI's which they are prepared to share with the fanbase in order to instil true accountability for consistently stuttering team performances: "It's really up to [Michael] at the end of the day, it's his job to coach the team." The coaching structures, training programs, coaching personnel and game day selections that have rendered this Wallabies team the least successful of the professional era are firmly in the crosshairs with RA accepting no more lame excuses or abdicating responsibility of the success of this once might team. No one will be allowed to be comfortable or complacent: “That's entirely up to Michael. We support him and we support the structure he's put in place. You've got to allow your coach to pick the team. He's indicated he's very comfortable with his coaching structure.” What magnificent leadership!
metalisticpain
Roar Rookie
Full strength Wallabies meet development side all blacks. If you win, then please introduce paper to cracks. Hansen is deliberately using this dead rubber to give exposure to those on the fringe (as he should it's a nothing game). Until the Wallabies can put in a showing against them when it actually matters, I think crowing on a win is detrimental. Maybe they haven't gone backwards too far if they Eck out a win. But they certainly haven't improved in 3 years.
moaman
Roar Guru
What has happened thus far could be summed up as "a mere flesh wound" ;-)
Crash Ball2
Guest
It's a sad day when so many agree with this sentiment. Cheika's blinkered reign represents years of wasted opportunities, wasted talent and lost - maybe unrecoverable - goodwill and the Australian rugby public are pining for the end to come. Like some endless C-grade horror movie character this ugly, twisted monstrosity Just. Keeps. Going.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
ethan, I'm not sure you can say Folau is a great fullback if he has so many issues. It's a bit like saying someone is a great 200 m runner because they can run quickly in a straight line, but such a shame they walk through the bend. Pick Folau consistently on the wing; let him adjust to the role and use his skills and attacking game (which are ideal for a wing) and he really could become World Class. But after 5 years playing rugby, if he's not learnt how to play full-back he's not going to get it in the next 12 months.
Damo
Guest
Fionn, not only his passing skill but a frightening lack of game sense and vision (for someone with as many tests under his belt) to take the high risk and I suspect ego driven option rather than the low risk draw and pass to complete the try- when the outcome of the game depended on it. That single 10 second sequence for me goes a long way to answering the question Will poses in this article i.e. that the 1st 40 minutes was about attitude and arrogance.
Crash Ball2
Guest
Yep. Ranking: #7 Win rate since last World Cup: 42% This year: 33% Next opponent: ABs Bernard Foley: “I’m more than confident that we can go one better than we did last time with the players that we’ve got and the programs we’re setting up and the coaches we’ve got putting it all in place, that we can be where we need to be to win the World Cup.” Eye-watering stuff.
Jamie Hevia
Roar Rookie
This is spot on! Cheika claims that the players read all the stuff being said in the media, maybe he can take two minutes to read this post? Funny things is (as you mention) that we have the players, I just really think the coaching team is pig-headed