Michael Cheika unapologetic about Wallabies' error-riddled World Cup win over Georgia
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika won’t apologise for his unblinking commitment to ball-in-hand rugby in Japan.
His only concession is they’ll need to do it an awful lot better in a quarter-final against England if they’re to bring home the Webb Ellis Cup.
An error-riddled performance in beating Georgia 27-8 on Friday showcased both the positives and negatives that come from a game plan where kicking in general play is a rarity.
By retaining the ball on the back of a dominant pack display, the Wallabies had a mortgage on possession and territory, forcing their tier-two foe to attempt more than 200 tackles.
However, the chances of making mistakes escalates, only heightened by playing in wet, windy pre-typhoon conditions in Shizuoka.
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Cheika had warned the high-risk Australian method was coming in pre-match interview when asked if it was ideal conditions to unleash a tactical kicking game plan.
“I don’t think we’ve got one of those. Kicking the ball, it’s not in our nature,” he said.
His tune hadn’t changed after the final whistle.
“It’s pretty obvious, we’re the lowest kickers in international footy.
“We like to play with the ball in our hand… but there were a few things that we definitely need to work on out the back. We’ll get to that during the week.”
A tear was in the eye when Georgia's Mamuka Gorgodze departed the Test rugby pitch for the final time on Friday https://t.co/2D5h8mYVqD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 11, 2019
Cheika outlined some of his concerns, believing the backline should have stood flatter on attack and been more decisive when attacking holes.
It’s hard to know if those comments will count against Matt To’omua, who was handed a start at five-eighth for the first time in nearly a year.
Cheika described the utility player’s performance as “solid”, giving little away over whether to persist with To’omua or restore specialist No.10 Christian Lealiifano.
One player not under any threat is winger Marika Koroibete, whose sensational solo try in the 60th minute was the best of four register by the Australians. It helped to spark the Wallabies, who were just seven points up at that stage.
Two who had less memorable days were fullback Kurtley Beale and No.8 Isi Naisarani.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ekOSAAoK3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Beale will undergo a week of concussion testing following his groggy early exit while Naisarani will be sweating over the possibility of a citing for his high first-half hit.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies began a relocation process soon after fulltime, catching a bus in the direction of Tokyo but finding roads had been closed ahead of typhoon Hagibis striking Japan on Saturday.
Cheika’s men could spend an unexpected couple of days at their pre-tournament suburban training base of Odawara.
They are expected to fly to Oita on Japan’s main southern island later than scheduled, on Wednesday.
AAP
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Comments on RugbyPass
What 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.
2 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.
40 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.
40 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.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 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.
4 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 commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to comments