Michael Cheika ‘can turn Wallabies into World Cup winners’
Three weeks ago the Australians looked in crisis after a protracted off-field scandal involving utility-back Kurtley Beale and team manager Di Patston led to the resignation of former boss Ewen McKenzie and the break-up of his backroom team.
But Cheika, far right, whose track record includes Heineken Cup success with Leinster in 2009 and leading the NSW Waratahs to their first Super Rugby title in August, has brought order to the chaos and Smith expects his massive impact to continue despite yesterday’s narrow 29-26 defeat to France in Paris.
England face Australia and Wales in their World Cup Pool and Smith told The Rugby Paper: “The dimensions of England’s Pool have completely changed. Michael Cheika knows what he wants, which is an attacking game, and that’s what you should get from Australia.
“That Pool is going to be very tricky for England now because Australia have got a very strong, charismatic leader. They’ve always had good players but, even though they don’t have much time, I think they’re a far more dangerous proposition now.
“I’ve always been on the Cheika bandwagon. Just watching what he’s done and how he’s transformed the Waratahs, and before that transformed Leinster from being sleeping giants into a European powerhouse, marks him down as a very accomplished coach and a major force in international rugby. It’s really exciting for Australia.”
Outlining Cheika’s qualities, Smith adds: “He’s a really strong personality, he’s a winner, he’s got a lot of self-belief and he instils that in players. He’s old school in that he likes his forward pack to have plenty of dog, but he’s new school in that he knows there’s a place for everyone.
“He doesn’t ostracise individual players and he’s been able to get the best out of Kurtley Beale when there have been any number of coaches in Australia who haven’t been able to do that.
“That’s the sign of a quality coach. It’s not all about integrity committees and all that carry on, it’s good old-fashioned man-management. He’s got the full support of the players immediately and I think he’s a breath of fresh air. England will need to look out!”
Fellow Aussie and Exeter skipper Dean Mumm is also backing Cheika to turn Australia around and believes the Wallabies are well placed to be a surprise package and repeat their World Cup successes in 1991 and 1999.
Mumm, capped 33 times by the Wallabies, told TRP: “Cheika’s been successful in Europe with previous teams and he knows how to win here. He’ll ensure a strong set-piece and that’s going to be good for the Wallabies going forward.
“In Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps and Michael Hooper there’s a good spine to the side and they’ll build experience over the next 10 months.
“Foley is someone who can really challenge the line and if he doesn’t hurt you himself he can put others through a hole. Outside that Australia have got some real threats.
“What you see is what you get with Cheika and he’ll take the political element away. “His hard-nosed approach means all the players will know where they stand.”
England face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday-week and Smith believes Stuart Lancaster’s men must improve their passing game.
He added: “If you look at both New Zealand and Australia last weekend and ask, ‘what was the point of difference?’, you look at the ball movement.
“New Zealand and Australia made almost twice as many passes as England and Wales and when you’re transferring the ball you get more one-on-one collisions, which means quick ball. Quick ball is gold for Australia and England have work to do to match it.
“The big lesson for England and Wales last week was ball movement, particularly those little passes among the forwards that create good tempo.”
NEALE HARVEY
