Cheika: Chubby Wallaby 'needs to get his rig in order'

Standout Super Rugby hooker Folau Fainga’a has been brought down to earth on Australian television by Wallaby head coach Michael Cheika – who made a guest appearance on Fox Sports.

The free-scoring hooker has been on fire for the Brumbies this season, and is likely to add to his six Wallaby caps in 2019.

However, Cheika was less that pleased with the 5’9, 106kg frontrow’s physique, which he sees as a tad too chunky.

“He needs to get his rig in order, he needs to get fitter, shed a few kgs,” Cheika told the Fox Sport’s panel.

“I’m sorry to say it on TV mate but you need to get into it and get fit because the guy is a quality player.

“He can play.”

Two years ago, the Brumbies Hooker was working as a laborer in Sydney before the Brumbies gave him a chance, which has paid off big style for both parties.

“I’m not saying we’re not fit enough, I’m just saying fitness is an easy thing to work on, to be more and more competitive.

“Hard work, a simple way to be successful is to do the things you don’t want to do.”

“And if you do the things that you don’t want to do, which is train hard all the time, because the temptation is to ease back, you don’t want to get that guy injured.

“I’m not a cliche man but sometimes you’ve got to break an egg to make the omelette and that hard work will have us hard and ready for seven games in a row.”

The Brumbies blew a chance to end their Super Rugby drought against the Crusaders, falling away in the second half to lose 36-14 in Christchurch.

The men from Canberra produced one of their most intense 40-minute efforts in recent memory to lead 7-0 at the break on Saturday, playing with a physicality and accuracy that threw the defending champions off kilter.

However, they couldn’t maintain it, conceding five tries in a one-sided second half, including a brace each to Crusaders wingers Sevu Reece and Will Jordan.

Additional reporting PA