Wallabies coach Michael Cheika leaps to the defence of ‘under pressure’ old foe Eddie Jones
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and his England counterpart Eddie Jones have traded plenty of barbs in the past three years. But talk of being under pressure has left one of the outspoken mentors stunned.
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Michael Cheika declared it is “crazy” that rival coach Eddie Jones is under pressure as the pair prepare to lock horns at Twickenham.
Like Cheika, who kept the wolves at bay after Australia defeated Italy 26-7 last weekend, Jones has been under enormous pressure to keep his job as England coach after a disastrous Six Nations campaign.
Reports in the British press said Jones would be sacked if he did not win three of the four Tests in the autumn series; England beat South Africa, lost by one point to the All Blacks, and then beat Japan with a second-string team.
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That measure means England must beat Australia, however their magnificent effort in a losing cause to the Kiwis will have done Jones more harm than good.
Cheika knows all about pressure and while the two former Randwick teammates have been keen verbal sparring partners over the past three years, he only offered support for Jones.
“It’s crazy to me seeing a guy like that, when you say pressure, that’s crazy,” Cheika said.
“They’ve won 20 or 30 games with him, I think that’s just — I don’t know what it is to be honest.
“The guy has taken them to another level since the 2015 World Cup.
“I don’t get that stuff personally, because for mine their play under him has improved, and they’re playing good footy.
“They’re relatively consistent, I know they went for 20 games in a row after the World Cup, you can’t be complaining about that stuff, so I’m not sure why they’re into him.”
Cheika has never beaten Jones at Test level, with a 0-5 record against England since Jones took over in 2016.
Jones started his tenure at England with a record-equalling 18 successive Test wins, but in 2018 England suffered their worst Six Nations campaign in history with three straight losses and also lost the June series to South Africa 2-1.
However, Cheika has presided over an equally alarming Wallabies slide this year.
Their scratchy win over Italy in Padua won’t convince critics that the Wallabies are on the verge of a remarkable turnaround, but it was a much-needed morale booster.
Cheika said wearing the indigenous jersey at Twickenham, unveiled last year when Australia defeated the All Blacks, will need to be honoured with a similar performance against England.
“We’ll get out there and give it our absolute best, it’s going to be a big match-up, indigenous jersey, we’ll be ready to go, we’ll be doing our best for Australia on English soil,” Cheika said.
“You don’t count on it you respect it. You respect the jersey all the time. It’s been brought out especially by the union.
“We’re very proud to play in it. We’ve only had it the one time but it’s not your security blanket, you need to do it proud every time you play in it. I know there is a different pattern on it, but it is still an Australian jersey and we will be looking to do our best in second opportunity to play in it.”
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Originally published as Wallabies coach Michael Cheika leaps to the defence of ‘under pressure’ old foe Eddie Jones