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Why is Michael Cheika constantly hammered, while Justin Langer is blameless?

12th November, 2018
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12th November, 2018
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To pinch Justin Langer’s “elite honesty” quote, the Wallabies are playing crap rugby, and the Australians are playing crap cricket.

Both teams are an embarrassment to their sport, their sponsors, and their dwindling faithful fans.

Yet Wallaby coach Michael Cheika keeps pulling the daggers out of his back, while Langer rides blissfully on despite his teams playing the worse cricket.

Let’s compare the two sports under their respective coaches in 2018.

The Wallabies have played 11 internationals for three wins over Ireland, the Springboks, and the Pumas with eight losses.

The cricketers have played 13 internationals in three formats since Langer took over, for one ODI win by seven runs over South Africa, and a very honourable Test draw against Pakistan, with 11 losses.

No matter what Cheika says, he’s pilloried, but Langer blithely said – “There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and we’re heading in the right direction”.

Hello, and the dwindling faithful cop it, and smile.

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The stats don’t agree.

In the 13 internationals the cricketers have played, the Australians have lost 137 wickets for 3148 to average 22.98 per wicket.

But the opposition has lost only 103 wickets for 3838 to average 37.26 – one-way traffic.

The Wallabies have scored 205 points in their 11 internationals, but given up 277 points, and 24 tries to 30 – also one-way traffic, but not as bad as the cricketers.

Simply, Justin Langer hasn’t played the hero shots to get out cheaply, nor has he bowled the half-trackers and been smashed, nor has he dropped the catches that matter – he’s the helpless coach sitting in the stand muttering ‘what the?’

Cheika didn’t lose possession like Samu Kerevi in the fourth minute to bomb a try, he didn’t knock-on against Wales like Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Will Genia, Bernard Foley, Michael Hooper, Rob Simmons and Adam Coleman when the Wallabies were on all-out attack.

Nor did Cheika ignore two gimme penalty goal shots in front like Hooper, nor did he fail to release like Ned Hanigan in the dying moments to allow Dan Biggar to pot the winning 9-6 shot.

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Yet Cheika must be sacked.

Cheika had 11 of the 23-strong squad with 50-plus caps, and five more over 20 – a wealth of experience, and it’s virtually been the same throughout 2018.

So how come so many experienced footballers keep playing like Z-graders?

There’s no doubting their passion and pride in the jersey, that was clearly evident in being down 7-31 to the Pumas in Salta, but strutting their stuff in the second session with five superb tries to win 45-34 – the comeback to end all comebacks.

So the only realistic explanation for the constant failures is there’s a vacuum between the majority of 23 sets of ears.

Dumb footballers play crap rugby – so shape up, or ship out.

And only Michael Cheika can make that decision, so make it.

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