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What legacy does Michael Cheika leave, and what does his successor need to fix first?

21st October, 2019
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Michael Cheika (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
21st October, 2019
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True to his word pre-tournament, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika fell on his sword on Sunday, resigning following Australia’s crushing 40-16 loss to England in the quarter-finals.

It was, in some ways, a fitting end to a coaching tenure hallmarked by strange selection choices and desperately poor performances against top-tier nations.

Dogged by harsh criticism and very middling results for an extended period, Cheika said he would stand down if Australia failed to win the World Cup.

Rugby Australia CEO Ralene Castle backed that sentiment up, saying anything less than an appearance in the final would be a failure.

And with that, Cheika’s time in charge of the national side came to a close.

What legacy does he leave? How will his time in charge be remembered?

Crucially, what does his successor need to get in order first?

We were joined by Roar rugby expert Brett McKay on the Game of Codes podcast to review the Cheika era and breakdown the good, the bad, the ugly and the future.

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Listen to the debate:

Visit our Game of Codes hub to catch the full episode and be sure to subscribe and review on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever else you’re listening.

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