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Joined August 2015
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Tis a little weird alright, but apparently it was due to his two club titles (one each in both hemisheres) and for being a mentor to Aus rugby players from their self-inflicted wounds from the previous messiah Ewen. So a clap on the back for club/franchise rugby which is a good effort but certainly not in the 2015 framework. And as a mentor – more like a domestic achievement as all coaches mentor their players – some would say Hansen rules the roost in this department.
So its a little of an odd one – no wonder Cheika was surprised to receive it. But for two titles – I’ll take my hat off to him.
As you correctly point out – lifting Aus from 3rd in the world to 2nd is nothing to write home about.
Michael Cheika named World Rugby Coach of the Year
Agree about Read…..his facial expressions look like a struggling player barely coping with the environment.
Wouldn’t be surprised if they contain and win in the quarter-final with a full onslaught against SA in the semi.
Strong-finishing All Blacks beat Tonga
Relatively comfortable with where the ABs are at present.
Henry/Hansen concluded some years back that the ABs played best in streaks of three, and that is the preparation I’m seeing. Get through the pool games with minimal damage with the last three games being the objective. Richie was never going to play against Tonga regardless of the condition he was in.
Some combinations have been tried out and tested, but definitely the ABs are holding back. The contact area is so gentle, even my granny gets excited. But when the pace is briefly poured on…..Skudder gassing it, B Smith having a dash, down the right-hand sideline inter-passing, and the play close to the ruck which nearly resulted in a try…..all little glimpses of what is coming. Notice at one stage the scrum just went into ‘lock-down’ and refused to be budged back. Nice.
The next (hopefully) three games will have us gasping with delight as ring master Hansen releases his charges.
There is one other observed detail which is quite cunning that I could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel, but pointing it out will be of no advantage to the ABs ….so lips are sealed.
Strong-finishing All Blacks beat Tonga
mmmm that happened to me once in Dunedin. Came back from a bar and my car was gone
Cheika's cheapening of the Bledisloe a sad day for rugby
Several months ago a large man with a scruffy facial hair arrived at the office several months ago for treatment to an ulcer. Due to an employment confidentiality agreement we cannot identify the gentleman. However, suffice to say – the big guy and his family have been using our holistic clinic for a number of years now. As per usual, he was put under hypnosis and within a short time began to mumble. At first Mick (as we call him) was incoherent but his words soon became clearer and quite audible. He was going over a plan to win a world cup and said that a soon-to-played rugby championship would be used to solidify player selection and combinations.
Later, after having a two week break……a Bled cup on alternative weekends would show which two teams (subject to minor tweaking) would be at his disposal for the world cup – as two crucial world cup games are also on alternative weekends. He had a plan and knowing his last southern game was to be held at fortress in NZ he was not willing to risk injuries to several of his key players. Mick also mentioned something like – this year was not the time to take on the world’s best rugby team as they would in a heightened celebratory mood with several senior players leaving their squad. He mumbled something about next year they would be ripe for the picking as their team would be in rebuilding phase.
Apparently his team would first play Fiji (Thursday 24 Sept in Cardiff) so his A-squad would have the first run, then three days later the B-squad could take on Uruguay (Sunday 27 Sept Birmingham) with several of the A-squad on the bench.
Seven days later his A-squad would take on the might of England Australia v England (Sunday 4 Oct Twickers) ….then seven days later banana-skin Wales (Sunday 11 Oct Twickers). His thought process was to use the team that played in the last Bled, to play Wales.
Before being brought out of his hypnotic state Mick mumbled something about winning the pool so as to have an easier path to the World Cup final. Not sure if this makes any sense to anyone.
Cheika's cheapening of the Bledisloe a sad day for rugby
Spot on for pointing out the glaring differences in coaching styles Spiro, and the unhealthy fascination over the mythical influence of two players in a team sport. Also agree that Cheika failed to develop any reasonable game strategy other than same old, and hasn’t nurtured any new member into the squad. Most of his current squad have little in the X factor (when opposing the ABs), so I expect he will need to unearth some talent in the very near future.
Can he deliver? Like the other messiah’s, he start with a hiss and a roar. Make all the right noises. After some time in the wilderness a flock will soon gather to cheer on the new leader, which is all very very good. It’s down to whether there is enough gas in the tank to maintain the level for four years. And is battling over second and third ranking going to be distracting. South Africa have some very good players and with the right coaching appointments – will be strong contenders for second ranking with a push to the top.
Bringing back wounded Aus from self inflicted wounds is hardly something to make a song a dance over. Cheika took Aus from 3rd in the rankings to 5th and back up to 2nd. Hardly a ringing endorsement of his prowess. Winning a Rugby Championship in World Cup year is not unusual on the Aus spectrum. Happens on frequent basis almost every World Cup year as most coaches have their eye on the real prize. To win the championship, Aus played two home games against SA and NZ and travelled away to play the weakest team. Again not a ringing endorsement.
As an international coach Cheika has foolishly approached a referee during half-time (Waratahs/Blues 2015), which followed his sanctions for abusing a cameraman which took place prior to being appointed Aus coach. But the classic in the public arena – is for an international coach is to dismiss the value of bonus points during a World Cup tournament Ah, no. We haven’t thought about bonus [points]. It’s not Super Rugby” “”I haven’t thought about it to be honest.”
As a coach, being a mentor goes with the appointment, so I guess it’s a domestic achievement.
The ‘pool of death’ was a complete fabrication – a myth. When the pools were drawn up nearly three years ago (Dec 2012) due to team rankings (12 teams automatically qualify,8 via repechage process – the total points of rankings for each pool gave Pool A and Pool B the same number of points -47, but only Pool A was oddly called ‘the pool of death.’ This was due to rankings fluctuating prior to the tournament but by kick-off because of injuries in other teams – the pool of death was quite frankly – a myth.
As of January 2015
Pool A; Australia ranked 5, England 4, Wales, 6, Fiji 12, Uruguay 20. Rankings points total – 47.
Pool B; South Africa – ranked 2, Samoa – 10, Scotland – 8, Japan – 11, USA – 16
Rankings points total – 47. The same as Pool A – the mythical pool of death.
So now I understand why Cheika said he was surprised to receive World Coach of the Year 2015.
SPIRO: Can Cheika defeat the Rugby World Cup runners-up curse?