Georgina Robinson from the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Michael Cheika’s job as Wallabies head coach is likely safe but that Stephen Larkham’s position as Wallabies attack coach is in question.
Robinson reported that while Cheika was fiercely loyal to defence coach Nathan Grey and skills coach Mick Byrne, sacking Larkham was a change that Cheika might be prepared to make. Robinson also reported that new forward coach Simon Raiwalui may also get the chop.
A lot of Wallabies fans will undoubtedly be hoping these are just leaks being made by troublemakers who are privy to board deliberations but which have no substance, because the implications are fraught. Sacking assistants for an all-round failure of a team but leaving the boss in charge would always a dubious proposition and would be another black mark against Rugby Australia in the eyes of the fans.
For all criticisms that might be directed towards the likes of Grey for his musical chairs defensive schemes and Raiwalui for the Wallabies dodgy scrum and lineout, both of these men have clearly had to coach with one hand tied behind their back due to Cheika’s poor selections. None of Cheika’s preferred 10-12-13-15 this season are good defenders, he selects hookers who can’t throw and he chooses two No.7s, compromising the lineout.
Of course Grey and Raiwalui should be subject to their fair share of blame for a poor season, but that has to be done in the context of what they are given to work with by Cheika.
The notion of making Larkham the fall guy for Cheika’s failure would be degrees worse again that if Grey and Raiwalui were dumped. In 2017 the Wallabies attack was good – good enough to get the side four tries per game. The sources of failure for the attack in 2018 were highlighted by multiple well-qualified commenters. The lineout, discipline and fatigue management in defence; the non-selection of a No.8 with go forward; and the lack of a kicking game all cruelled Larkham’s ability to get the team scoring points.
(AJF Photography)
Moreover, Cheika thought enough of Larkham’s work with the Wallabies since 2015 to anoint him as heir apparent and appoint him full-time into his role in 2017. The idea that Cheika then drew the conclusion that Larkham became irreconcilably incompetent within 12 months is simply not believable. Without being party to what has gone on, it is only possible to speculate. Perhaps the two had interpersonal conflicts this year or perhaps Cheika and Rugby Australia see Larkham as a significant enough sacrifice to satiate the criticisms of fans that they ‘do something’ about the Wallabies performances this year.
Irrespective of the reason, it would be very wrong for Cheika to throw Larkham under the bus to save himself. Plenty of fans would hope that he would resign before he allowed that to happen.
Aside from the moral implications, there is the practical matter of which assistant coach is going to want to work for Cheika if he does that. He will have already ruined the last bloke’s career and reputation. Who is going to see a one-season gig with the Wallabies in 2019 as anything but a career-limiting move?
We are all supposed to be finding out what Rugby Australia have decided about the future Wallabies set-up this week, and I still hope that Cheika accepts the reality of his coaching record and resigns. But if he is retained, I sincerely hope that he does not allow Larkham to be the scapegoat for his failings.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Maybe I'm over-estimating Cheika's Machiavellian abilities, but if the RA wants Larkham as the next coach, maybe Cheika has nominated him, knowing that RA won't get rid of him, and if the Wallabies attack continues to falter Cheika has another excuse to fall back on.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You're comparing the two? Cheika has already said he will be stepping down after the RWC. Hansen has now said he is doing the same. It's exactly the same thing, except the team Hansen inherited were better, and the team he will pass on are also better.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
If Chekko stays and he will because they can’t sack him ; he will do as he pleases ; Scotto will be just another clown under the RA big top. There are good reasons to sack them all Chekko, Mikko, Natho, Raiwallo and Larko but none of them are totally to blame except Chekko. From now on the onus is on Castle and the board of RA ; they had their chance with Jake White.
Hoy
Roar Guru
What potential have QLD shown under Thorn? They won 1 game more than the previous year, had terrible defense still, despite it being one of Thorn's rally cries, and had absolutely terrible discipline. There is potential, sure... in that we all HOPE Thorn can work wonders... but I can hardly say it translated to anything in 2018.
Jock the sock
Guest
The assistants have not delivered and deserve to be gone
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Mate I can’t see anyone wanting any of the assistants. I think all of them have got a real battle looming to try and get some credibility back because none of them have any at the moment
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Mate I do think there are some issues but I still can’t see how anyone with a even a tiny bit of pride would remain in such a poor environment. I actually have no sympathy for them as they allowed the situation to develop
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
That should have been dictatorship but obviously between my poor spelling and autocorrect I stuffed that up
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
I guess from the assistant’s perspective’s they might have seen the glimpses of promise like the All Blacks win and the occasional concession to sensibility made by Cheika like Folau on the wing. They probably thought that they could stick it out and help Cheika get a respectable result before he leaves, but were as caught out by things getting even worse this year as anybody. By the time they found out it was too late. They have clearly been put in a very difficult position and with coaches who we know have performed well under better circumstances, Larkham and Byrne in particular, I think they should be given the benefit of the doubt.
Play on
Roar Rookie
Nice article. I have been watching all year and hoping that the ship could get righted. Can’t believe Cheika doesn’t look in the mirror and do the right thing. I believe oz has tons of talent, and the bringing back of AAC was my last straw. I flew on a whim to final in 2015 to erase demons suffered in 1991. Worst thing to ever happen was Cheika getting coach of year in 2015, (although I greatly respect that they made it to final), but I saw the rot coming when he took his extension of contract about a month before England whitewash tour. Blaming fitness, going on trips to look at Norte dame, etc. the guy is a motivator. Not a coach at this level. Can’t believe RA.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Maybe if all the assistants are terminated, Cheika may go out to show loyalty to his staff. I do doubt this would happen. That being the case, the first thing that needs to be done is to take selections off the coach and implement a selection committee/panel.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
If all the stories about Cheika forcing players on the assistants and them having to conjure up some magic to make it work then they all deserve to be both sacked and having their names tarnished for not having the moral courage and walking out of such a stuffed environment. I mean FFS sure you are going to have differences at times but I can't believe that anyone with any sense would stay. It even gives you the perfect excuse of leaving and saying why you were not able to get the best out of the team because of the doctoral approach and poor selections of the hard coach. Now it doesn't matter what happens no other team in the world is going to want to have anything to do with anyone that was part of this setup. They have proven they are either incompetent or gutless and neither of those are attributes that another team will want.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
GreyM: I have no idea what he is like as a human being but as a coach, I threw the towel in when I read the Kiwi article and Drew Mitchells comments about running all over the field in the D to cover others tackling weaknesses. His focus on proven warriors when the chips are down is so typical of Eddie Jones when he was coaching Aust that he strikes me as a poorer version of Eddie Jones. Who is IDing our young talent? When you look at the potential Qld has shown after just one season with Thorn it proves what talent we have but no patience to bring them to fruition. The current thinking seems to be to send them off to Europe, let them train them and we will bring them back if they make it there!
MH01
Guest
Georgina is just part of the PR department for Cheika and NSWRU, best to ignore her articles. Cheika and all the assistants need to go. Larkham will probably get another gig as coach, and Grey - never . He has to be the worst assistant coach in the business, only there cause of the jobs for the boys policy that is killing rugby in Australia .
JohnMc
Guest
Good article. Says a lot of what I feel about RA and the Wallaby set up. I hope they sack no one but bring in Scott Johnson to oversee a 3 man selection committee with continuity of selections and best player in a position policy with Johnson given power to overrule Chieka’s selections where necessary. With Cheika as the only selector, continuity and putting the best players on the field has made it difficult for all the coaches to do their best. Sacking Larkham will create animosity in the Super Rugby ranks. I dare say the Brumbies would then push back on any resting players policy or releasing players mid season for Wallaby training camps should their number one son be thrown under the bus.
Red Block
Roar Rookie
Rhys, there are two schools of thought on this. Either Cheika has absolute control over the way the team plays and selections which means the assistants really have very little input and that Larkham was only ever there as a necessary evil to give the appearance of balance in the Waratahs stranglehold on the coaching panel or Larkham is totally incompetent. Certainly Larkham's record as a head coach or an attack coach wasn't anything outstanding and in hindsight he was probably given a job he wasn't quite ready for, so both arguments may carry some water.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Yes Rhys - I fully agree and have 2 comments. 1) Robinson is a crap journo imo (as is everyone at the Herald now except Paul Cully) and she gets most things wrong. So I have no confidence in her story. 2) I have no doubt Cheika would throw anybody under a bus to save his skin, including S. Larkham. Everyone can see the WBs are in free fall and he should have retired after the England test.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Yeah, Fionn. Compare Cheika hanging on against all logic with Hansen’s decision to step aside to bring a fresh set of eyes.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Thanks Hoges.
Bobby
Guest
It's interesting that Markham may get the spear. We all know that Chek is more than likely staying. Most would have thought Bernie was safe and Grey and the forwards bloke would be spared. Remember that old saying - Defence wins rugby games. Oh so true !