Michael Cheika responds to Eddie Jones as war of words breaks out ahead of quarter-final clash
That old Randwick rivalry has reignited between Michael Cheika and Eddie Jones, laying the foundation of another spicy lead-up to an Australia-England sudden death showdown at the Rugby World Cup.
The two nations will almost certainly meet in a quarter-final in Oita on Saturday next week, unless the unthinkable happens and Uruguay topple Wales in the final pool D match on Sunday.
A Uruguayan win would leave Australia on top of the group and facing France in the quarters.
Cheika has clearly decided England are in his sights, speaking freely about a team they’ve lost to in six successive meetings, with most of those by wide margins.
Ex-Wallabies coach Jones, who loves pre-match banter as much as his counterpart, had issued a verbal prod to Australia this week.
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After his team’s scheduled match against France was cancelled by World Cup officials because typhoon safety fears, Jones said his team would benefit from a two-week break in comparison to the Wallabies, who were pushed hard by rugged Georgia on Friday.
Cheika said all his former teammate at Sydney club Randwick had actually done was heap additional pressure onto himself.
“Well, I saw he was saying that that (cancellation) would be an advantage and the ‘typhoon gods’ were smiling on him,” Cheika said
“They’ve had the best preparation according to the coach so they’d better go out there and win. We’ll see how we go.”
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika won't apologise for his unblinking commitment to ball-in-hand rugby in Japan. #RWC2019 #AUSvGEOhttps://t.co/2RoU9fEk46
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 11, 2019
Cheika dismissed talk England are clear favourites, preferring to ignore the underdog discussion entirely.
“Mate, I don’t know the relevance of it,” he said.
“The only relevance is Saturday. It doesn’t matter, all the different things, who’s had a week off, who’s had a week on, who’se been resting, who hasn’t.”
Cheika was quizzed on whether the clash with the forward-based Georgians on Friday was the ideal preparation for an England side who also base their game around a robust pack.
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While the answer was no because the teams are too different, Cheika said the trench warfare nature of the match won 27-8 at a wet and wild Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka was ideal for his own players.
“The hit out was good, just having to dig in and work hard, get up off the ground, get into some tough stuff,” he said.
“That’s how we wanted the game to go, we wanted to work like that.”
AAP
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‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to comments