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Why ‘proud’ Australian Michael Cheika has no sympathy for Wallabies
Los Pumas coach Michael Cheika is “proud” to be an Australian, but that doesn’t mean he has any sympathy for the Wallabies after they fell to their second loss in as many Tests.
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After leading the NSW Waratahs to their first-ever Super Rugby crown in 2014, Cheika signed a three-year deal with Rugby Australia and the Wallabies.
Ewan McKenzie stepped away from his position as the coach of the Australian national team. Suddenly, with the upcoming Rugby World Cup in England just around the corner, the Wallabies were without a coach.
But Cheika was a logical choice to succeed McKenzie in the role.
Cheika came in and led the Wallabies to their first World Cup final since 2003 – the men in gold fell short of glory, losing 34-17 to arch-rivals New Zealand at Twickenham.
While the dreams of ending long-lasting Bledisloe Cup pain and other droughts continued to allude Cheika’s Wallabies, the coach did an admirable job.
But, after losing to England in the quarter-finals of the 2019 tournament in Japan, Cheika’s time was up. An opportunity with the Green Rockets in Japan awaited the coach.
New Zealand-born coach Dave Rennie replaced Cheika within the Wallabies setup, and he’s since been replaced by Eddie Jones.
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But Cheika found his way back to international sport with Argentina – and briefly with Lebanon at the Rugby League World Cup last year before returning to Los Pumas.
Cheika and Los Pumas recorded a famous win over the Wallabies on Saturday evening. Backrower Juan Martin Gonzalez scored a last-minute winner, which saw the Wallabies fall to their second consecutive loss under new coach Eddie Jones.
As the Argentina players rejoiced post-game, so did Cheika, and rightly so. The Australian is no longer the coach of the Wallabies and has no “sympathy” for them as they continue to struggle.
“I don’t think you have sympathy for your opponents, that would be not very cool on my end,” Cheika told reporters after the Test. “I’m looking after my fellas.
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“I know I’m an Aussie and I’m proud to be that person but, and I’ve said it before, these are my guys now and I love them.
“Anytime we win we want to be happy but also respectful. I don’t think we disrespectful at all, we just got the win. We earnt it too.
“You’re saying, ‘am I thinking about the opposition?’ It’s not really my thing, I’m thinking more about our fellas.”
Argentina started their Rugby Championship campaign with a tough loss to the red-hot All Blacks in Mendoza earlier this month.
But they moved on and set their sights on the Wallabies.
Following a week of training in the eastern suburbs of Sydney – an area that Cheika knows very well – the Pumas were met by a passionate cheer as they ran out onto the field at CommBank Stadium.
The Argentina fans were small in number, but more than made up for it was a deafening series of cheers, cries and chants.
It was brilliant. It’s why we love sport.
Australia shot out of the blocks with an early try to centre Len Ikitau, but the 24-year-old left the field shortly after with a devastating injury.
Los Pumas fought their way back, and were leading the Test as the clock ticked by the 70 minute mark.
But Australia weren’t going to throw in the towel. Winger Mark Nawaqanitawase intercepted a pass and ran coast-to-coast as he gave the hosts the lead with just a few minutes left on the clock.
Disaster had struck for the visitors.
But their never-say-die attitude served them well, with star backrower Juan Martin Gonzalez scoring the go-ahead try in the 79th minute.
The Argentina fans, players and coaches went berserk. But Cheika wants them to “keep getting better.”
“We made some clangers tonight as well that led directly to tries” the former Wallabies coach added.
“Just little things around discipline in the system… even just the basics of (the) defensive system like when Nic White scored.
“When you’re starting a season like we are, we’re sort of starting the season now, you’ve got to go through that, as I said before, that agitation.
“Those things, even though they’re bad in the game, they’ll be good for us in the long run.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Crusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to comments