PARIS – Before, Michael Cheika would stand up and go toe-for-toe with his contemporaries, as if his to show off the bravado and masculinity that comes with the territory of being a rugby figure.
He enjoyed the banter and the machismo of not giving an inch. The game away from the game.
Initially, it worked. A Super Rugby triumph was followed up by a World Cup final a year later.
Then his old sparring partner at the Galloping Greens, Eddie Jones, arrived Down Under for a three-match Test series as coach of England.
Jones, a 15-year international coach at that point, schooled him in a classic case of rope-a-dope. Cheika threw punches but none landed.
Not in 2016 and not again as Wallabies coach. Well, not enough to land a telling blow anyway.
Angered and frustrated, Cheika, looking to blame everyone but himself, moved on.
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
It was the best thing for his career (not that he had any other choice).
Yet, things have changed in recent years.
The explosive Cheika that rinsed everyone standing between him and grabbed jerseys and ripped his players to shreds in Salta has mellowed. Maybe it’s the Malbec.
So if you think the old Cheika is going to return ahead of Argentina’s World Cup semi-final against the All Blacks on Friday night (Saturday, 6am) think again.
“To be honest, I think I’ve moved on a little bit from that. I used to love a lot of that stuff beforehand,” Cheika told The Roar.
“It’s all phases about where you are as a coach and as a person, but I haven’t really got into a lot of that stuff and play that mental game.
“I’ve been trying to focus on our lads and enjoying the time with them. They’re great guys.”
Indeed, the softer and respectful side of Cheika has been on show since farewelling Australian rugby in October 2019.
“I think you’ve got to evolve,” he said.
“There’s a time and place for that rhetoric when you want to get into it, and often you’re defending your players, so you’re doing it for that reason.
“You’re trying to set out different things, but most of the time when you’re doing interviews, this one’s not really relevant to that because it’s not my guys, but most people you talk to is your players. No matter how many times you tell not to read the press, they’re reading the press.
“You’re trying to talk to them and your fans. But I haven’t felt the need.
“I’ve had a go here and there before, obviously, and I loved all that stuff, but you’ve got to evolve and change as a person and as an operator.”
Pumas Coach Michael Cheika (C) shakes hands with Wallabies Coach Eddie Jones prior to The Rugby Championship match between the Australia Wallabies and Argentina at CommBank Stadium on July 15, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Growth and development is a side few thought Cheika capable of when he left.
Although he was always fascinating to interview (a multilingual person, who made his millions in fashion), the pugnacious and at times narrowminded coach looked and sounded like a man stuck in his ways and unwilling to budge.
He would cut off those who he didn’t agree with and become cantankerous when challenged on previous statements, ideas or selections.
Yet ever since taking over from Mario Ledesma as Los Pumas coach, Cheika has softened. It’s not by accident either, having watched the South Americans first as a rival coach, then as Ledesma’s assistant and over the past 18 months as head coach.
“Definitely coming here, I’ve taken a different sort of role as well, a different persona, because they don’t need that other persona that I have. They need this one. They don’t need the other one, they’ve got plenty of the other one,” he quips.
“I try to adapt according to what the team needs, not what I am.
“The last thing they need is another guy revving them through the roof. They need someone calming them down.”
Michael Cheika, (L) celebrates with Argentine captain Julian Montoya after their victory over England at Twickenham Stadium on November 06, 2022 in London. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
The calmer, mellowed Cheika was on display last Saturday as Argentina clawed their way back against Warren Gatland’s Welsh side.
From 10-0 down, Cheika’s Pumas did it in threes by knocking over four straight penalties – a pragmatic approach to the game that the ex-Wallabies coach hadn’t shown since guiding Australia to the 2015 World Cup.
“I have experience in these type of games, 10-0 is a lot but momentum is what’s important,” Cheika said.
“When you get positive momentum you can put quick points on the board and we were always in the game.”
While they came to fruition in Marseille against Wales, Cheika believes the fact they had to win every Test after their underwhelming 27-10 defeat to a 14-man English side had prepared them for knockout rugby.
“Since the first game we’ve been playing knockout footy,” he said.
“A lot of our lads are first timers at the World Cup, so learning how to play with that pressure, if you don’t win here you’re going home.
“We’ve been talking about it openly. I think a lot of our guys are feeling a lot of heat about so many Argentinian fans come, their families come, they pay their cash, they’ve come for this game and the quarters and we wanted to give them the reward for coming to follow us because the crowds have been unbelievable. Even I felt a little bit of that, I reckon. I was desperate to make sure they got here.”
Michael Cheika celebrates throughout the 2023 World Cup in France. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Those game smarts will need to be on show later this week against an All Blacks side that will have their tails up at the Stade de France as they sniff a fourth Webb Ellis Cup.
But without the fear of playing to get out of the pool or a quarter, Cheika believes his side can seize the moment.
Nor will they fear the All Blacks like they once did, having beaten Foster’s men in 2020 before knocking them off in New Zealand last year too.
So what’s the dream?
“It’s pretty obvious,” said Cheika, not needing to state the obvious.
“No, I’d just like to see that team with that little bit of extra pressure of making the making it [the semi-final] off their back now and prepare really well and go on and attack it, really attack the game. Be really clear of what we want to do and give our fans a reward of another week of believing and enjoying it.”
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I don't know about that JD. My recollection was at the start he did specifically refer to the broader game and did note his initial focus had to be on this year's RWC. I guess we can only wait and see. I don't believe Eddie or Dave were going to outperform each other. I could not see the point in the change, felt DR was treated disgracefully, and certainly was very sceptical about the EJ honeymoon lasting five years. Having said that I never believed DR was a test quality coach. His 2nd tier success was in 2012 and 2013 when he had Wayne Smith as an assistant. For me he was always part of the Johnson master plan, providing Castle with an obedient coach who would not rock the boat. His one big attribute was that he was a rugby man, and a man of the people. I thought he could have a huge impact on the game in Australia. Nobody else at RA or most of the SR administration was prepared to get out there and sell it to the masses. Sadly I thought he was mostly invisible. Eddie will have to be Eddie Everywhere. It is hard to believe he can make a difference as a Wallaby coach in the next cycle. Like the women we can improve as much as we like, but if you can't improve at the same rate as everyone else, then you are toast. The only difference is that the women are barely semi professional, so there is some upside. Sadly RA will sit on their hands for another couple of years until we are so far behind we cannot catch up, and will lose the opportunity to be a credible opportunity for girls.
Double Dribble
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Joe King
Roar Rookie
Picking a young inexperienced team was the reason the Wallabies did so poorly at the WC—that, and trying to adjust to a new game plan. No coach could have got them to perform better given those two factors. So that was Eddie’s blunder. But the slow decline in Wallabies competitiveness since 2005 is not due to the coach. This has been demonstrated again and again by changing coaches. The worst thing that RA could do is sack another coach. Let’s just move on and let this become extra motivation for him.
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
Great comment Jr … last week I posted something similar: Can we also fix this situation where schoolboys (albeit very talented schoolboys) go straight into professional setups where a lot of their development stalls. I’d like to see at least some exposure to club rugby where they would gain some further skills and traits that would serve them well when the chips are down… like perseverance, and character and hard work.
terrence
Roar Rookie
Couldn't happen to a more deserving man. Congrats cheika, best wallaby coach in the modern era.
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
Well it is part of the current reason the Wallabies are doing so poorly. It is just not the ONLY problem.
tamaolevaoo
Roar Rookie
This persona seems more palatable to be honest the old calling the all blacks as just new Zealand was churlish just immature pandering to the all black bashing section of the aus media ….. By all accounts the actual teams he coaches all enjoy him as a guy to have around he just didn't play the aru game enough looking like you're in a good place well done …….
Blink
Roar Rookie
It is more than that. They are performing the basics at a top level and working off that. Very basic and works a treat. They're ahead of Australia and England who both have the failing EJ influence.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Cheika a changed man? I don’t think so. He said himself that the Wallabies need an Afro presence because they didn’t, and still don’t, have it themselves. Those Latin types though, well Cheika couldn’t keep up with one of them for emotion, let alone a whole squad. To paraphrase the man, “I had to tone it down. It’s what the team needed.” Anyone who makes money out of the fashion industry, include Kardashian or Burney, is no fool. I think Wallaby Cheika took us all for a ride.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I wouldn’t apply the ‘c’ word to him, but yes Cheik did damage us in a small way, and it has cost us. The longevity, and teflon nature, of Bernard’s test career left us with a dearth of playmakers (not to mention an underused competitor 10). MC did a lot right, but his neglect of the attack enabler role to this day has cost us.
Leroy14
Roar Rookie
Chieka is the new wallabies coach. Eddie is waiting until Argentina go home from the WC to make the announcement.
Kens lovechild
Roar Rookie
very happy for Argentina
Kens lovechild
Roar Rookie
but not make worse :stoked:
Kens lovechild
Roar Rookie
Here lays the problem the players don't have the total skills/knowledge before they step up to senior rugby like other nations. You must have all that before you step up,and then follow the game plan eternal tactics. Should be all ingrained second nature and have the ability to be instinctive and read it play it, If its not working then go to plan b c and or d
Joe King
Roar Rookie
Problem with Wallabies is not the coach. Solution for the Wallabies is not a different coach. Changing coach won’t solve the problem. Let’s move on.
cs
Roar Guru
Or at least not burn everything to the ground.
Kens lovechild
Roar Rookie
Argentina in the semi's thats massive well done. Cheika its a very feel good story got to give him the praise he deserves keep it up come a fair distance
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
"Eddie is the best person right now, because he will be the only one who might push back on RA to fix the development of players from grassroots and juniors through a proper pathway." Come on Mugs, Eddie only started talking about the grass roots when the losses really piled up and he needed an excuse. When asked about it he said that's not the head coach's job, it's an administrator's job. "Any other incoming coach will focus solely on the Wallabies..." This is what Rennie said when he joined: "It's not just a case of me thinking, 'well, I've got a contract for three or four years and I'm not too concerned about grassroots rugby and so on'. I want to leave the place in a better place than I found it. "I'm passionate about the game and creating change. You've got to surround yourself with good people to make change, and I'm looking forward to that challenge."
Don
Roar Rookie
Matera is a big missing piece against the ABs. He was immense in that win last year and that win here during Covid.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
The one thing he didn't have to bring to Argentina is mongrel. But that's what the Wallabies lack.