Michael Cheika quits after disastrous World Cup campaign
Exiled from the international game by Michael Cheika, former Wallaby Quade Cooper couldn’t help but take a swipe at the Australian coach who handed in his resignation follow a disastrous World Cup campaign.
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Michael Cheika was never going to go quietly so no-one was surprised that he kicked the door on his way out.
The only thing louder that the sound of him laying the boot in, will be the sighs from Wallaby fans who had become fed up with his unfulfilled promises, inconsistent selections and crazy tactics.
After pleading with journalists to consider his feelings when he was grilled about his future immediately after overseeing Australia’s worst World Cup performance, he was back to his normal self in having one last crack at his employers while announcing he was quitting.
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Cheika was almost sacked last year after the Wallabies endured their worst season in almost six decades and has been fuming ever since Rugby Australia’s bosses appointed Scott Johnson as director of rugby, above Cheika, and a three-man selection panel.
“I think it’s no secret that I’ve pretty much got no relationship with the CEO (Raelene Castle) and not much with the chairman (Cameron Clyne),” Cheika said.
“Scott’s a lovely bloke and I get on fine with him but I’m sort of not really into that type of thing. I like to take that responsibility.
“I found also that it changed my normal routine around things. Not that my way’s definitely the right way, I’m definitely not saying that, always, but that’s just the way I like to operate.”
If he actually cared about Aus rugby he would have done it a while ago..
— Quade Cooper (@QuadeCooper) October 20, 2019
Although he led the Wallabies to the 2015 World Cup final and always wore his heart on his sleeve, Cheika’s passion for the game was always countered by his abrasive my way or the highway approach.
His stubborn refusal to curtail his high-risk rugby tactics, which proved hopelessly ineffective and ultimately brought his downfall, didn’t endear him to either the Australian public or even his own players, as Quade Cooper revealed with a salty posting after hearing he’d finally fallen on his sword: “If he actually cared about Aus rugby he would have done it a while ago,” Cooper tweeted.
The pile on against Cheika could be vicious in the coming days, and grossly unfair to a man who poured his heart and soul into the Wallabies, but just wasn’t flexible enough to bend.
A complex man with plenty of charm and wit, many players have spoken very generously about what he’s done for their careers.
His record of 34 wins from 68 Tests over five years is poor by comparison to other coaches but not all his fault. Rugby Australia has dropped the ball as many times as him and now the pressure will intensify on Castle and Clyne to depart as well.
Castle didn’t bite back at Cheika, issuing a bland statement thanking him for his service, after earlier saying that the results in the past two years, and the team’s awful showing at the World Cup, weren’t up to scratch.
“Very disappointing, obviously,” she said.
“Everyone in the whole organisation, the Wallabies, put a whole lot of work into preparing for a World Cup and that’s not the way you want to exit so incredibly disappointing.
“I don’t think anyone would think that we have been satisfied with the results. I think it has been a very challenging time.”
Cheika had already given his word that he would leave if the Wallabies didn’t win the World Cup but even if he didn’t, it’s inconceivable that he would get an extension when his contract expires on December 31.
Johnson is about a commence a thorough review into everything that went wrong this year and coaching is at the top of the list.
Rugby Australia has already begun the process of picking Cheika’s successor, with the highly-rated New Zealander Dave Rennie, the strong favourite.
“I have no regrets about making the call but I would love to stay on,” Cheika said.
“I really feel attached to the team. It’s an honour, this role as the coach of Australia. I take it with a lot of pride and a lot of honour.
“The point is I made the call to say no final, no stay. I back that.
“On this occasion I put my chips in, I didn’t get it right, but I always back the players to get the job done. I had full trust in them that they would get it done.
“Didn’t happen, weren’t good enough and that’s the way she rolls.”
Originally published as Michael Cheika quits after disastrous World Cup campaign