'I think 'disarray' is a little bit harsh mate' - Cheika comes out fighting after Beale and Ashley-Cooper sanctions
Michael Cheika has denied Australia are in “disarray” heading into the clash with England at Twickenham despite dropping Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashely-Cooper for breaking team rules by inviting women back to their hotel after the 9-6 loss to Wales.
Both were expected to feature in the final match of a season that has seen Cheika under severe pressure after just four wins in 12 tests, but the head coach is adamant this action will make the squad stronger.
Beale and Ashley-Cooper were sanctioned after the breach of team protocol was raised by captain Michael Hooper and the leadership group including David Pocock, Allan Alaalatoa, Samu Kerevi and Nick Phipps. The two experienced players had invited three women back to their Cardiff hotel room a fortnight ago after the Wales loss. It has emerged one of the women was Ashley-Cooper’s sister-in-law while the others are believed to be her friends. Reports suggest the women were out of the hotel by 10.30pm but team rules state guests are not allowed in players’ rooms.
Cheika said: “I think ‘disarray’ is a little bit harsh mate. This is equivalent to someone being late or missing a curfew. If anything it’s a team that has got clarity on where it wants to go. Maybe not perfect now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not claiming to be the king of anything. We’re going to cop a heap of grief – probably a little bit more after today for sure – but you’ve got to love it. You can’t help but enjoy that.
“The leadership group came to me earlier in the week and asked me to deal with it in a way I thought was appropriate and I thought this was the appropriate way. We have had an inconsistent season because we have often taken shortcuts this year when we have needed to go harder and get to the well a little bit more and dig a bit deeper. Some might consider it a bit too harsh, the leaders showed a lot of courage coming to me to point it out because they want to set a standard here. The lads were very apologetic, they realised their error and they have been trying to help the other players get ready for tomorrow’s game.
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“We got together after the Argentina game in particular and said we needed to get tougher on the little things. I would say we are eight tenths of the way there overall. To get nine that little bit we need to cut out all of those shortcuts and even though this was a minor thing, if you keep a grey area there then it gets bigger so I may as well make a stand on it and go from there.
“There have been a lot of good things around what’s been happening inside the team this year. We’ve been under a heap of heat and we’ve stayed very solid, we’ve stayed together. We’re able to still make strong decisions where it may have been easier to say, “well here are a couple of great players, let’s make sure they’re in the team because we need a win at all costs”. I think we’ve stayed very solid and we’ve just got to take out some of the shortcuts that plague many teams and be 100% – we’re going to go and do the hard road and put in everything we can to get there every single time. There’s a lot of good stuff inside this team and you’re going to see it tomorrow. “
Captain Hooper said: “Obviously we’ve got a huge game here tomorrow, and then we’ve got some time off so that gives a lot of players and staff time to reflect. Reflect on some of the course of action and things that we’ve done this year. Really draw on these occasions and use them going forward. It would be foolish to wipe this stuff clean and start a new year, this is stuff that we’re going to take into next year and be something that’s really worthwhile.”
Ashley-Cooper made his first start for Australia in more than two years against Italy last weekend having left the Waratahs in 2015 to join Bordeaux-Begles in the Top 14, before joining Japanese side Kobe Steelers in 2017.
Before Beale joined Wasps in 2016, he had a long list of off-the-field problems which came to head in March 2013 when Beale was fined Aus$40,000 and suspended following a punch up with Melbourne Rebels team mates Cooper Vuna and Gareth Delve.
He was suspended for a second time in seven weeks by the Rebels for breaking an alcohol ban, however, Beale was selected to play for Australia against the British and Irish Lions. A year later an ARU code of conduct inquiry found him guilty of a serious violation over an image and text he sent and was fined Aus$45,000. The charge followed a complaint from former Wallabies business manager Di Patston against Beale.
At the end of last season in England, Beale headed back to Australia to bid for a place in the Wallabies squad for next year’s World Cup in Japan.
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Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments