Cheika questions Owens and dismisses 'gallant loser' tag
A frustrated Michael Cheika said it is not acceptable for Australia to be seen as a “gallant loser” after a heartbreaking loss to New Zealand and questioned Nigel Owens’ officiating in Dunedin.
The All Blacks needed a last-gasp try from Beauden Barrett to snatch a dramatic 35-29 victory at the Forsyth Barr Stadium and retain the Bledisloe Cup on Saturday.
Australia, still licking their wounds after a heavy loss to the world champions in Sydney last weekend, stunned the world champions by scoring 17 points with reply in the opening 15 minutes.
Steve Hansen’s side came storming back with first-half tries from Rieko Ioane and Aaron Smith, going on to take the lead after the break courtesy of scores from Barrett and Ben Smith either side of a Will Genia five-pointer.
Kurtley Beale looked to have snatched it with a try three minutes from time, only for Barrett to stun the Wallabies right at the end of an incredible Test.
Bernard Foley was among the Australia try-scorers, but crucially missed four kicks and Cheika understandably cut a disgruntled figure after such an agonising defeat.
Standing proud together. ? #NZLvAUS #BledisloeCup pic.twitter.com/r1vlcmmgE2
— Wallabies (@wallabies) August 26, 2017
The Australia head coach said: “I am always proud and pleased with the team,
“Even last week when it was harder to be proud, because I see what they’re doing off the field. I know chaps are throwing eggs and bombs and everything our way, that’s the way she rolls.
“But the gallant loser thing is not on. We should have won that game.”
Cheika also felt referee Owens let All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick off the hook following a first-half incident involving Wallabies flanker Ned Hanigan.
“I have to tread lightly here,” he said. “Number one I can say, because it was clear to everyone, is [Retalllick] has picked one of our blokes up and put him on his head.
“Categorically. He has his arm through his leg and picked him up. And it’s a free pass. The guy can’t end up on his head any other way but then it’s a freebie. Just as well he didn’t break his neck.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Crazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
4 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
4 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
212 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
23 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
23 Go to commentsWow, do we really still have to listen to all the excuses and “unfairness” of it all. Even blaming the bounce of an egg shaped ball for the loss. But the article is about context, so what about the Springboks having to play the other 5 teams in the top 6 and still beating a comparatively rested AB team on a very empty tank.
212 Go to comments“Teams would generally have three coaches below their head honcho; attack coach, defence coach, forwards coach” do they? I’m not sure what the NZ set up is tbh, but the other 4 sides top 5 sides all have very different structures to the one outlined in the article! As well as attack, defence, and forwards coaches, SA, Ireland, and France also have specialist scrum coaches. England have a specialist scrum coach too, but arguably don’t have a forwards coach, with that role taken on by Borthwick. SA also have a backs coach in addition to defence and attack, and Ireland and England have fitness coaches, with England also having two skills coaches.
2 Go to commentsWorst article I've read in a while. Trying to disguise a backhand slap as a compliment. The whole article is a bit weird and negative. I think South African men are emotional in general… think Clad le Clos’s father 2012 London Olympics.
4 Go to commentsIreland are going to win the world cup.
23 Go to commentsIt was the strangest result ever. Etzebeth should've been yellow card for his cynical retiring move and a penalty try. Birth second half tries by the Allblacks were fantastic and the TMO operating outside the law to rule out the first try was egregious. Yes, the boks got the win but it was through some bizarre officiating that allowed them to sneak home against 14 men that dominated them. The quieter Bok supporters know and acknowledge the Allblacks were the better and dominant side. Justifying the win because they beat a pre world cup Allblacks selection is silly.
212 Go to commentsA very English thing to do hey Courtney, blerrie kant
4 Go to commentsIt sounds like Andrew is trying to convince himself or has just lost all perspective. The team did look jaded for the last couple of games of the six nations but a few things were wrong there. Italy tackled their hearts out and made Ireland work hard for every try. Outsmarted by Scotland? Huh? Ireland got held up over the line about 4 times. Scotland did nothing on attack the whole game other than one breakaway near the end. A recharge and reset is needed which they hopefully will have had before the SA your.
23 Go to commentsIncluding SA and Argie teams was great for the quality of rugby, but middle of the night games and player travel/ jet lag make that unworkable. I think that SA in Europe and Argie building an American league with USA, Canada etc would be better long term. If Oz can't sustain Rebels then next cab off the rank should be a Japanese team. Keep regional comps to time zones, both club and test rugby. Then existing test windows for test tours plus RWC.
8 Go to commentsMisogynists have feelings too!
4 Go to commentsCrowd sizes of the URC v the Premiership must be a big factor.
1 Go to commentsWell you’ve made a proper tit of yourself, haven’t you! 😂
173 Go to commentsBen it's beyond their comprehension-
212 Go to comments