Rugby World Cup: Michael Cheika snub spurs former Waratah Ben Volavola

HE was brushed by Michael Cheika for two long years but Ben Volavola says he feels only gratitude toward his old coach​ who turned him into a Test footballer.

Fiji's fly-half Ben Volavola (R) is tackled by England's lock Geoff Parling during a Pool A match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between England and Fiji at Twickenham stadium in south west London on September 18, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE, NO USE IN LIVE MATCH TRACKING SERVICES, TO BE USED AS NON-SEQUENTIAL STILLS

HE was brushed by Michael Cheika for two long years but Fiji five-eighth Ben Volavola says he feels gratitude — not bitterness — toward his old Waratahs coach​ ​after he ​​gave him ​his​ start and turned him into a Test footballer.

Volavola and Cheika will have a reunion of sorts on Thursday morning when the ex-NSW squad member lines up at five-eighth against the Wallabies in their World Cup opener in Cardiff.

The 24-year-old was given his Super Rugby debut by Cheika in 2013 and played seven games, but was then overlooked for the next two seasons, despite being a fulltime member of the Waratahs squad.

Volavola has since signed for the Crusaders and started playing Test rugby for the nation of his birth. His sixth Test was in the hot seat against England on the opening night of the World Cup last week in front of 82,000 people at Twickenham.

Fiji's fly-half Ben Volavola (R) is tackled by England's lock Geoff Parling during the opening match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Volavola was named in the Fijian no. 10 shirt again overnight to meet the Wallabies and many former NSW teammates, but he said he won’t be out to prove a point to Cheika.

“I have nothing against Cheik. He has always been good to me,” Volavola said.

“He is basically the reason why I got my first crack at first-class rugby and Super Rugby. I am always going to be thankful towards Cheik and the Waratahs coaching staff.

“The coaches were really good towards me with communicating where I was at.

“I always knew what I had to do to improve, and I was thankful for that. At the time the boys in my position were playing good footy so I didn’t really have a case to raise with the coaching staff at that time. All I had to do was just ensure I improved my skills and my game.”

Three straight years of training under Cheika at the Waratahs did exactly that, as did working alongside players who stood in his path — including Israel Folau, Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale.

Indeed, though Cheika didn’t use Volavola, his coaching has directly enhanced the danger posed to by the Fijian team to his Wallabies at Millennium Stadium.

The composed direction and long boot of Volavola — honed on the Waratahs training field — gives the Fijians better structure and ability to play field position. As a long-term member of the defensive team working against Cheika’s Wallaby-strewn side at the Tahs, he also has plenty of intelligence to share with the Fijian coaches.

“Training with those guys and learning a lot from them on and off the training paddock, I can now implement those skills on the field,” Volavola said.

“I am very thankful to have been able to spend three years with world class players like Izzy, and not just him but guys like Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne and all those guys.”

Volavola’s first touch in a World Cup was forgettable, he dropped a high ball cold early against England.

But he settled and had some nice touches later, including a beautifully weighted cross kick that saw Nemani Nadolo score.

“It was definitely the biggest crowd I’d played in front of, and just the occasion being the opening game. It was a great experience,” Volavola said.

“It was funny it only was after I made that first mistake that began to feel settled. It was only then that I got myself into the game and felt comfortable, I guess things happen for a reason.

“Hopefully I can learn from that game and improve my personal game for the Wallabies.”

Volavola said he sometimes has to pinch himself how much has happened in his rugby career in 2015, from being signed to replace Dan Carter at the Crusaders, to making a Test debut and now facing the Wallabies in a World Cup.

“Considering I didn’t play for the Tahs for two years, just all the doors that started opening with the Crusaders and also Fiji, it’s been an absolute blessing over the last couple of months,” Volavola said.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Michael Cheika snub spurs former Waratah Ben Volavola