It’s likely Michael Cheika would’ve been both annoyed and a bit perplexed by his boss’ “pass mark” comment last week.
When asked about the prospects for the Wallabies in their upcoming European tour in which they face Wales, Italy and England, Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle said they will be “very confident they can come home with three wins”.
Castle was stern and forthright, perhaps exasperated – like many Wallabies fans – following another Bledisloe Cup hammering a few days earlier in Yokohama.
“That’s the start point, that’s the pass mark from where they are, from their perspective,” she said. “That’s the expectation that certainly Michael’s setting for them and there’s no reason why they can’t do that.”
It might be going a bit far to suggest that Castle’s words will be ringing in Cheika’s ears before kick-off in Cardiff on Saturday. But if just one loss equates to less than a pass – that is, a tour failure – and follows another woeful international season, then how confident can he be about hanging onto his job beyond this year?
The failures are stacking high during the Cheika era. They failed to beat England in a 3-0 home series defeat in 2016, they failed to beat Ireland in a 2-1 home series defeat earlier this year.
In between, they failed to beat Scotland in Sydney and were less than impressive in wins over Fiji and Italy. And in the Rugby Championship over the last three years, there have been few reasons to believe that the future is bright.
(AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
The statistics are stark this year: the Wallabies have lost seven of their ten Tests to slump to seventh in the world rankings.
They were thrashed 37-20 by the All Blacks in Japan a fortnight ago to sink to a 3-0 Bledisloe whitewash, and that followed a great escape in Salta and their first defeat to Argentina in Australia in 35 years.
Castle made her “pass mark” statement at a media event to announce a partnership with the Australian Army in Sydney to share facilities and leadership development, so it’s difficult to decipher whether it was a pre-mediated public warning shot to Cheika to start getting some results less than a year out from the World Cup.
The Wallabies’ brand is at a seriously low ebb and only some spirited spring tour victories can lift them off the canvas.
Rugby AU chief executive Raelene Caste. (AAP Image/Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Australian cricket is perhaps the only other sport in the country grappling with an inferior public perception. Castle, Cheika and a large group of senior coaches and administrators at Rugby Australia might’ve felt a bit jittery watching the bloodshed unfold at Cricket Australia.
The speed and ruthlessness of the sackings highlight that within professional sport, there’s a high standard set for the national team to be both victorious and virtuous.
At least Justin Langer will be cut a bit of slack given his two best batsmen – Steve Smith and David Warner – have been missing during a 5-0 one-day international series loss to England, a 1-0 Test defeat to Pakistan and a 3-0 T20 loss to Pakistan.
Cheika won’t be cut any slack as he’s got close to a full squad to choose from. Imagine if the Wallabies’ two best players – say David Pocock and Will Genia or Israel Folau – weren’t available over the last year.
And because Cheika’s got a near fully-fit squad to choose from and he desperately needs wins to keep his job, the European Tests aren’t a time for experimentation. He doesn’t have the luxury to give more game time to Jack Maddocks, Jake Gordon, Jermaine Ainsley or Tom Banks to find out if they’re Test-quality players.
Cheika has little choice but to adopt a short-term November philosophy of banking wins. Given Castle’s comment, he may be a dead man walking if the Wallabies lose to Wales and December could turn into a European vacation.
Waxhead
Guest
OK now that WBs have lost to Wales in another sorry performance let's turn to the future. Another defeat to England is highly likely also. But RA will no doubt persist with Cheika for the RWC. For starters..... Post RWC they should go all out to bring back Eddie Jones as coach imo. He's off contract with England and is now a better coach than 10 yrs ago. WBs also they need the unrecognised and undervalued Robbie Deans back in a senior capacity. And this time back these men to the full, learn from them and give them autonomy. Then a full clean out of the RA Board, re-structuring of the game in Aust, a return to Rugby on free to air TV and financial backing of local rugby clubs should commence asap. Aust needs to urgently implement the NZ centralised and fully aligned rugby system. The Robbie Deans biograghy "Back, Red and Gold" should be compulsory reading for everyone to show what is wrong about the game in Aust and how/why NZ Rugby and Canterbury Crusaders have all the answers. If only Aussies will stop their arrogant prejudice, petty squabbles, media tabloid crap and then listen and learn from those who know much better and have a winning culture.
jack
Roar Rookie
Yes, we need a clean out, but that would require Clyne to act honourably and to step aside. That is unlikely given his past performance. So then the State unions would need to hold an EGM and sack him, again, NSW, QLD, ACT and VIC will never do it - they don't have the guts to cut off their secret payment plans - otherwise referred to by Pulver as the 'commercial inconfidence agreements'
jack
Roar Rookie
This was clearly part of Chieka's plan to harden the F$%K up before swooping in with the important wins
Sydney Potae
Roar Rookie
Well yhey LOST to Wales another record for Chek he has broken all the losing records from fist loss to biggest loss against the Australian team
Realist
Guest
We could lose all three tests and Chieka would still be safe as a house with absolute authority. After we get cleaned up again next season and torched out of the pool at RWC, there should be a public flogging of the coach, Captain Hoops, Nic Phipps, Ned Hanigan & co. There is a long way back from here and the rot started in Moore Park
GusTee
Roar Pro
OMG - Just watched Wales pin us. The rot with rugby in Australia starts with the top. The chair and board must go. We need rugby union orientated administrators and not a mismatch of big corporate egos to run our game. Clyne has managed our (not his) game for 4 years and it has been 4 years of abject failure. He has taken the ARU to the brink of bankruptcy, split the country, reduced the player base, backed a coaching panel that is hopeless and irrelevant. The lack of performance pointers go on and on. Wake up Union in Australia - if we stick with Clyne and Co we may as well change allegiance to tiddly winks. ITS TIME FOR A CLEAN OUT - BIG BIG TIME.
Stin
Roar Rookie
That makes sense....not. Thanks Ed
Ed
Guest
SBS at 0420. The soccer broadcaster has all three of the Wallabies tests in November.
ScottD
Roar Guru
yep, thanks rebel
ScottD
Roar Guru
even my maths is off. 2003
ScottD
Roar Guru
Not a "wild assertion" Jeff, just a typo. I was actually referring to the 2004 world cup where the AB's hadn't lost for 18 months. Apologies for the typo. Having said that after the 2007 WC NZ rugby did do a full review if you recall before reappointing H,H&S. So back to my point which has been somewhat sidetracked, the Kiwis would not tolerate a 30% loss record without acting. Yet RA have got a 30% win record and do what exactly? Nothing tangible.
Stin
Roar Rookie
Can anyone tell me where I can watch this game? Fox tv guid ehas nothing as far as I can see and neither does Channel 10....?!!!
ChrisG
Roar Rookie
Which is what they currently have. Raelene Castle was born in Wagga Wagga.
moaman
Roar Guru
Great comment mate! Brought a smile to my face with that. Can't wait for the game at Twickenham , 12 hours away as I write.Going to be up in the dark hours for this one and it better be more fun than last week's weak effort!!! Hope your boys do ok too ;-)
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Jacko, you are correct and it is amazing the lack of action. As to the tackling, when one goes back to the years of Wallaby RWC wins and Bledisloe wins the players had good defensive structures and could tackle - remember John Muggleton (former NRL player) at a time during that era. Grey must go. As for the other, and I am not certain NZ admin has ever had the conflicts, but the Qld. vs NSW bickering, point taking, lack of working together and the power struggles are what cruels RA and rugby in Aus. The RA Board is beholding to the State Administrators, when it should be the other way around. It will be a long time before this changes or someone has the balls and power to change it. Anyhow, the Darkness against the Poms - I believe the Poms have no chance. Cheers
Cliff Bishkek
Roar Rookie
Moaman, agree 100%. The comment showed up!!! I reference your last sentence, as I have stated for a long time that Aus. Rugby does have the players (or the cattle as some say). Maybe not to the high level of skills as NZ Rugby. But the problem in Australia are the pathways and the lack of skills that has arisen in players from grassroots to the Wallabies. This is solely two things; (I) lack of coaching ability and quality, and (ii) as the players progress, their own lack of responsibility to "improve their own poor skills". By example, what Brad Thorn did to become an AB plus Wilkinson re kicking. Now as for the Wallabies putting up an effort against the ABs, well mate from my own perspective, I think a lot of the Aus. vs NZ psyche viz-a-viz big brother / little brother and the friendly banter. I remember many years ago when in Nth Qld, there were a group of us Aussies and Kiwis and we would occasionally have a game of touch rugby which would end up full tackle and such words were uttered "take that you Kiwi/Aussie b....d" in tackles. All good fun, occasionally a nose put out of joint but a good few beers after. And if the Wallabies do put it together today, I think they will beat the Welsh but it is not a certainty. Cheers
Bob wire
Guest
Many successful sports people talk about "one game at a time". Not a bad philosophy. Good luck Wallabies give it a full go boys.
moaman
Roar Guru
HansEn Jeff! ;-)
Jacko
Guest
Cliff...TBH its sad that so many fans can see the major issues and have many thoughts on how to overcome these issues....Eg a few selectors...constant swapping of defensive positions....but the people in the position to change it are doing nothing and have done nothing for way too long now......As a kiwi I see the NZ system as being a working model worth copying but whatever Aus rugby decides to do it needs to be done quickly as the players ability is not reflected in the results.....I cant see why the Board...therefore the CEO...dont see the bleeding obvious and force a selection panel on Cheika...get rid of Grey and get someone in who actually knows how to set up defensive patterns and stop signing players to such rediculas sized contracts at the age they are at.....I have no idea whether Castle will or wont succeed and I did not understand her appointment in the first place but she...or anyone else in the position...needs to make some hard decisions backed by a board wanting genuine change for improvement
QED
Roar Rookie
Somewhat telling: >>imagine if the Wallabies’ two best players – say David Pocock and Will Genia or Israel Folau – weren’t available over the last year. <<< not: "image if we lost the leadership and impact of our captain - Hooper"