For mine he ought to be regarded as a Wallaby great. He has demonstrated extraordinary courage, great skill and great composure. He is, in my view, the outstanding flanker over the ball of his era, including McCaw et al. He has, on more occasions than I can recall, saved the Wallabies on defence in their red zone with a turn over.
There is good reason why the All Blacks in particular and New Zealand Super teams have attacked his neck in recent years.
Were it not for Cheika’s blind commitment to Hooper as both a No 7 and captain, Pocock would, in my view, have also ranked as one of the better captains of his generation. His maturity, calmness and deserved respect from opponents and referees has not been exploited by the Wallabies since Cheika took over.
I have no doubt Pocock’s more cerebral approach to life and rugby put him at odds with Cheika.
Finally, he is just a thoroughly decent and principled and thoughtful individual – characteristics in very, very short supply in professional sport of any kind these days.
Go well Poey

A related aspect of this (as ever) insightful article is that of goal or place kicking.
I cannot fathom why, Australian goal kickers, across the board have a significantly poorer success rate than almost all of their counterparts – certainly in NZ.
Surely this is a matter of technique (first and foremost) and practice. Wilkinson was notorious for spending hours outside team training practising his goal kicking – and it showed. I am generlly not a Foley fan, he sits way too deep in the pocket, he gets deeper when under pressure and his kicking out of hand is of the ‘kick and hope’ variety and your tats bear that out. That said there is no serious alternative. Cooper blew it against the Tahs and showed how he can easily targeted he can be and that by a provincial team let alone a team like the AB’s. That being the case surely to goodness he can invest or be told to invest time in the ‘Aldred technique’ or whatever it takes to improve his kicking.

As ever an insightful and well reasoned piece. Your contributions always make great reading. I was not aware of Carwyn James ‘torture’. I do recall him as a gifted coach with remarkable success with the Lions.
Last year Matt Burke, surely the best or among the best Wallaby FB’s of all time , wrote a piece on Folau. Now some will see this as reconstructing history in light of Folau’s current travails. Burke observed, much as Nicholas has, that while Folau is very talented, good under a high ball and a good broken field runner he nevertheless
cannot pass
is a very poor kicker
has poor positional play
rarely if ever gets involved in contact (read ruck and maul)
Contrast his performance with that of Ben Smith, who regularly turns up at first receiver, does all of the things Folau does not do and only suffers by not being as aerially good as Folau.
Let’s move on and maybe, just maybe, we might see a little more creativity in a poor performing WB backline.
Finally, Folau clearly lacks judgment on a number of levels, he is arrogant in not considering his team mates and coaches and seems (to me) completely indifferent to the outcome of his actions – which, it has to be said, he gave his word not to repeat.

Hear hear Spiro.
Like many rusted on Wallaby supporters I was, last year, in despair. Not merely because of woeful on field performances but because of Cheika’s stubborn and obstinate approach to selection.
I hope to God the long called for addition of selectors addresses the points raised by Spiro. We should not be too optimistic however. Cheika has proven incapable or unwilling or both to change course and direction. Indeed his one dimensional approach to coaching is one of his major shortcomings. At this point of the RWC year, and given Wales impressive win over England at the weekend, we have nothing to lose. Go for a new broom. Energetic, enthusiastic new blood without any sense of entitlement.

All sensible and constructive points. Which is why Cheika will not go with any of them.
I and many others I believe now despair at Cheika’s one dimensional approach to selection and playing style.
In addition to his stubborn reliance on his ‘key’ players his refusal to blood not only back up half backs (and I use the plural deliberately) but almost as critically his refusal/inability to develop back up 5/8’s defies belief. We are critically exposed at 5/8. Instead of bringing along some younger specialist 5/8’s he persists with playing generalists such as Beale and Hodge and Toomua. Surely to goodness under Larkham’s tutelage (!!!!) they can bring on some specialists. I know the cupboard is bare but all the more reason to give some back up 5/8’s exposure. I do wonder about Larkham, as a coach he seems to make a great ex player and not much else. Our backline generally lack basic skills (passing on the wrong side, passing under pressure, passing at all (Folau)).
The best thing that can happen to Australian rugby at the moment is quite frankly for the Wallabies to come back 0 from 3. Only then might sanity prevail over excuses and hype.

Spiro
I agree with your analysis. What is of more concern and, for me, sums up the serious shortcomings of Michael Cheika and his coaching group is the discussion I very recently had with an ex Wallaby. This ex Wallaby knows and gets on with Cheika. This is relevant because it means Cheika was open and (presumably) honest in his conversation with this ex Wallaby. When asked how Cheika was going to deal with the poor on field performances in 2018 and prepare for RWC 2019, his response was ‘I don’t have a very skilled playing group so I am going to make sure we are the fittest team at the RWC.’
A truly and profoundly depressing statement. Our one dimensional national coach ‘s whole strategy to the current malaise of the Wallabies is to make them fitter. This is shocking on a number of levels.
1. Does he not think each of the more competitive teams (SA, Ireland, England, let alone AB’s) won’t be striving to be supremely fit.
2. Is his plan B so limited in scope that he ignores upskilling , selecting more skilled players .
3. Cheika has had the core of this team for 4 years. Why can’t Folau kick with one foot let alone his left foot. After all wasn’t ‘Mick the Kick’ hired, among other things to improve the kicking out of hand skills? Why can’t most of our backs pass as well on their ‘wrong side’ as their natural side? Why can’t our hookers throw to line outs accurately? Why does Ned Hanigan (sorry to single you out Ned) telegraph that he will not be unloading by burying his head and tucking the ball under his arm. Again, I thought Mick Byrne was supposed to bring the AB forwards sublime ball handling skills to the WB set up?.
Personally I don’t buy the proposition that our talent pool is so poor that our only strategy is to employ a better fitness regime. The dire lack of basic catch and pass skills, among others can be corrected, even at elite level. Send these professional players up and down the paddock 100’s of times if needs be until they learn to pass on their wrong side, to put the ball in front of the player,
and employ soft hands for pop passes?
I am heartily sick of hearing the post match mantra of ‘we did x better, we were all committed, we only needed a few passes to stick’ That is nonsense and it is treating the ever diminishing pool of hard core supporters (since that is all that is left supporting this team) like idiots.
I really am on the verge of giving up, particularly since RA itself has no Plan B and is clearly hostage to Cheika.

I completely agree with Rah Rah. In a piece I subscribed on Saturday but posted on Sunday I sadly predicted not only the outcome of the match but also the likely drivel from Cheika and Hooper.
There is absolutely no doubt that Cheika is in siege mentality. He is not listening to anyone and seems to think by constantly blathering about how passionate he is and how committed his lads are with somehow compensate for the chronic under performance and break down in skills and execution this team is suffering from on his watch.
Cheika has lost the rugby public. Readers and contributors to The Roar are the rusted on supporters of rugby in this country. To read the columns and contributions here over most of this year is depressing. RA and Cheika have no-one to blame but themselves.

Nick, as ever insightful. To me one of the key points of difference between the Australian teams and the NZ teams lies in coaching. Your remarks about Luke Whitelock being ‘encouraged’ to improve his ball handling skills is telling. Equally telling is the fact that both Toby Smith and Angus T’aavao (sic) – neither of whom were regarded as having any meaningful ball handling skills during their respective Australian stints have significantly upgraded their handling skills since returning to NZ. How is it so? I suggest smart, thoughtful and consistent coaching – consistent in ensuring that across all of the franchises it is clearly understood that all forwards must have a certain base standard of ball handing (think soft hands etc) skills.. When was the last time Hanigan looked like passing.ers
Contrast this with one of Michael Cheika’s ‘favoured sons’ Ned Hanigan. It is a dead give away for defenders when Hanigan (at least lowers his body height) and tucks the ball under one arm and attempts the preferred Michael Cheika forward attacking mode of bashing it up!.
As I have observed before on this forum, the spine (8,9,10) of the Wallabies concerns me but the absence of ball playing forwards and a line breaking No.8 is of equal concern. Where is there evidence of our Australian coaches taking a Luke Whitelock equivalent aside to insist on up skilling of core skills.

Having watched the 6 Nations matches thus far I am not sure I share the view that the Lions will get the jump on the AB’s.
There are a couple of observations, firstly the ball handling skills of the respective forward packs. The AB forwards from props to read at number 8 have developed their handling skills to a level which matches that of many backs. It is very rare to see AB forwards go one out. It is very rare to see any UK 6 nations forward pack adopt anything other than one out. Even allowing for New Zealand grounds being heavier than we in Australia are accustomed to I believe this is a major point of difference.
Secondly, it seems to me that, with few exceptions, UK 5/8’s lack the creativity of the likes of Beauden Barrett. The English 5/8 George Ford must be a candidate for the Lions role along with Johnny Sexton. Ford consistently props to pass and seldom takes on the line. Sexton has more to offer as a running 5/8 but given Ford’s prolific goal kicking it may be that Gatland will go with Ford. This represents another weakness in the potential Lions team.
Finally I do wonder how the Lions will deal with the intense scrutiny of the New Zealand public. It is one thing to have a World Cup on UK soil but quite different to be exposed to the very parochial NZ rugby supporters – just ask Quade Cooper!

My 29 year old son has had some dealings with Granville High School.
They have no – yes zero rugby at the school. Not too many years ago their girls team won the Richard Shaw Shield (equivalent of Warartah Shield). AFL and soccer are the football games of choice.
The lack of any serious focus or interest in schools rugby outside the private schools is scandalous. NSW rugby points the finger at ARU and ARU (impliedly) sees itself as primarily responsible for elite rugby.
My son is attempting to kick start rugby among a mainly Arabic school community. It is early days but I will keep Roarers posted on the response from the rugby administration who is charged with promoting the game we all love and have invested dollars and passion in.

In the early stages of Cheika’s Wallaby coaching time I made the observation in this forum that I had concerns about his histrionic style. I subsequently acknowledged the great success of the Wallabies at the 2015 RWC, for which Cheika had deservedly been championed.
I do now however repeat some observations about truly great and successful coaches. In my time the most successful Wallaby coach has been Rod McQueen. In NRL the stand out is Wayne Bennett. Steve Hansen, love him or hate him, is a truly outstandingly successful coach. Lisa Alexander as coach of our national netball team has been equally successful.
They all share some basic common traits.
They (at least to the observer) are phlegmatic, they are low key, they are not given to overt outbursts of emotional behaviour. They are adept at managing the highs and lows of the professional athlete and they bring a high level of EQ to their role.
The ARU has so nakedly abdicated the management of our national team to Michael Cheika I have no doubt he will continue on as the Wallabies coach. He may destroy a new generation of players and in doing so their supporters.

An absolute disgrace if they sign him. The message that sends to young players coming up through the ranks is appalling.
He is a complete mercenary and hypocrite and it is an indictment of the current state of the administration of the ARU that they are even thinking about it.

Good read.
This also raises the wider issue of Michael Cheika’s approach to RWC 2019. I am surprised that he is persisting with the ’60 testers’. This article and Nicholas Bishop’s excellent piece highlight a number of things.
1.Many of our Test players at the moment seem to lack rugby smarts. Their decision making is poor, be it when and how to approach rucks and mauls or when to take 3 points on offer. To what extent is this a product of the Cheika. ‘bash them, smash them and run with it’ coaching style
2. along similar lines to 1 above – an apparent inability to adopt a plan B or at least react more thoughtfully to game situations. Is this also a product of the Cheika style and also Stephen Moores captaincy. Moore has been a great servant of Australian rugby but his antagonistic attitude to all 3 of the referees in this series clearly did his team no favours at all. When was the last time a referee changed a ruling because he was badgered by the captain.
3. It is difficult to discern a pattern to selections. Is Cheika building to RWC 2019 or a win the next match approach.
In my humble opinion, from our limited player stocks (note I did not use the term ‘cattle’) we desperately need to bring on at least 2 new candidates for hooker, number 8 (bearing in mind Pocock will not be playing international rugby next year and because of his playing style is always going to be susceptible to injury), halfbacks, back up 5/8s to Foley, a ball playing no 12 and genuine speedsters on the wing.
In this regard I have it on very good authority that Cheika is not a fan of Jed Holloway (not enough of a basher) and Stirzaker (too cocky) among other potential candidates.
What message does it send to the halves, No 12’s and wingers to being back AAC, Mitchell, Genia and Giteau.
For all of Coleman and Arnold’s current shortcomings surely it is better to develop them at the top level rather than persist with the Horwill’s and Dean Mumm’s – who will most certainly not be around in another 3 years.

Cheika has (in my view) a long obsession/fascination with the big Polynesian ‘solution’. Note his somewhat left field selections of Leroy Houston and the (difficult to spell and pronounce) ex Tahs winger coming back from Scotland. Similarly, for all that he had a useful match v the Chiefs Palu is, in my view, no longer up to Test rugby and certainly cannot go beyond 50 -60 minutes.
Kerevi could not be accused of being in the classic AB mould of a second five. Nonu learnt to mix up his brute force with some deft kicking in his later years.
England is likely, despite all Eddie Jones rhetoric, play a crash ball game and kick to the corners, much in the vein of Woodward’s 2003 team.
I do think we need some new and different options, especially for Brisbane to throw England off their game plan. Having said that Brisbane is likely to be very brutal (remember the ‘Battle of Brisbane under Brockhoffs coaching) and blooding younger player, particularly up front may be a stretch.
Cheika faces some interesting challenges. As an aside – are there any selectors other than Cheika – not that it would make nay difference what they thought!

One of my own bug bears. My biggest gripe is that you get very little insight. Most followers of Super Rugby have more than a working knowledge of the game. We don’t need (usually Fox Sports Australia) commentators screaming out ‘forward’. We much prefer a Kafer/Horan analysis to the mindless meanderings of Greg Martin, Phil Kearns and the surprising inanities of George Gregan, who as a commentator makes a great half back. At times I (really) believe that the Australian commentators are paid by the word – ‘Silence is golden’. If you have nothing useful and insightful to say then say nothing.
I have had it said to me that I should recognise that sports commentators are now part of the ‘entertainment industry’. That may well apply to Big Bash Cricket but not to Super Rugby coverage. We are mostly rusted on viewers.
One particular gripe I have is the Phil Kearns “I do love a good scrum’. This line has been used for 15+ years. It is dull, boring and irrelevant to the coverage. He may well be a nice bloke and a very good hooker but he is a dreadful commentator

Very sad but at the same time uplifting.
Great piece.

One of the qualities which makes this site (mostly) a really positive contribution to the on line sports commentary world. Another shining example of proud and humble Kiwi sportsmen and women.
Vale M Crowe

Great to see The Roar supporting/encouraging thoughtful pieces such as this. They add enormously to our great game.
One of the aspects of both Dan’s story and David Pocock which shines through is humility and an understanding of where they ft into ‘our’ game.
At the risk of being provocative there are many elite (and not so elite) players who lack the life experience and self awareness to be truly great palyers and contributors to our game.
For that reason alone we should allow and encourage the Pocock’c and Vickerman’s of this world to demonstrate a role model which is not a stereotypical one for a professional sports person. Just maybe it will lead to others observing those same qualities of humility, self awareness and an understanding that it is not all about the individual player.

Paul D
many thanks for the link to the excellent Guardian article. Articulated way better then I could and captures the complete inane performance of the Channel 9 crew.
All rather sad really.
Bring back Alan McGilvray and John Arlott I say (really showing my age).