So, what HAS Michael Cheika actually done as a coach?
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<p>With reference to the 'new rucks law rant' thread, maybe the opportunity for players and coaches to be part of the trialling process and see & experience the direction the law makers want to go in creates a more adaptable and versatile mindset which when the chips are down results in quicker decision making.</p>
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<p>The quicker and more decisive decision making is the difference, not the physical any more. The other nations have caught up in that respect.</p> -
<p>Physical we have always been behind or equal, and have always have had to be better in the top two inches. Boers are HUGE, Poms are gym monkeys, then it's us and the rest of the rugby world in bronze for the size stakes. We just use what we have, by and large better than the rest. Blitzkreig rugby - concentreate our force where they are weakest!!</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="608969" data-time="1472118577"><p>I cant believe im saying this ,<br><br>But im a bit concerned for Australian rugby to be honest ,<br><br>years ago when they were a powerhouse I wouldve thought I would be celebrating this ,<br><br>but for the benefit of international rugby , im not so sure this is good thing if we keep flogging them</p></blockquote><br>I will going ABs by 13+ on the TAB and I probably won't even get good odds for my bet. This could be a record breaking hiding on the weekend.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="BartMan" data-cid="608974" data-time="1472120024">
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<p>Physical we have always been behind or equal, and have always have had to be better in the top two inches. Boers are HUGE, Poms are gym monkeys, then it's us and the rest of the rugby world in bronze for the size stakes. We just use what we have, by and large better than the rest. Blitzkreig rugby - concentreate our force where they are weakest!!</p>
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<p>For physical read dynamic, a balance between size, speed & endurance.</p>
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<p>The ABs have led the field in that respect since rugby went professional.</p>
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<p>Possibly before ;)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="BartMan" data-cid="608966" data-time="1472117982">
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<p>WEll at this stage I think the Aussies are going backwards.</p>
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<p>But we'll see when they play the Boers and the Argies.</p>
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<p>I feel like the Aussies are going backwards too but I don't think Chieka's the one to blame for it, just look at how shit the Aussie Super teams were this season (aside from a couple of games, like the Brumbies vs Canes and Tahs vs Chiefs). Still think they're capable of an upset when the stars align though.</p>
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<p>Good to see you back, Bart.</p> -
<p>Hope so, but I'm thinking a tough first half, lots of scuffles etc before they run out of puff and agro.</p>
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<p>SUper rugby is shit, yes, but you only need 22 decent players - if you;re not injured all the time thouhg. So long as your mountain peak is the same height as everyone elses, it doesn't matter how wide the base is! Unless injuries that is.</p>
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<p>We're starting our 5th best 2nd 5 this week! Nonu, SBW, Crotty, Ngati, ALB. That's what the base is all about!</p>
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<p>Cheers, thought I had better see what is happening on the Fern!</p> -
<p>I'm not sold on the idea we have been "flogging" them. Last year they beat us, then switched their team around & lost to us in NZ - where they almost always lose to us.</p>
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<p>They were pretty good in the world cup - certainly the 2nd best team there, I can't think of any other team that could have clawed back from the 50 minute position in the final, and but for Barretts last minute opportunitst that wasn't a thrashing. Especially not given they lost the guy who had been pivotal at running their team 10 minutes in.</p>
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<p>Last week they were shithouse, but half their team hadn't played in months & again, their key play maker & both replacement got broken... The England games were tight & most on here badley under-rate the current pom team. </p>
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<p>No question Aussie has depth issues & the wider Super comp has fucked their combinations, but I don't think they are about to drop out of all contention</p> -
Jesus batman's here. Fuck me dead.<br><br>
Cheika is heaps good at clothes -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608997" data-time="1472125180"><p>Jesus batman's here. Fuck me dead.<br>
Cheika is heaps good at clothes</p></blockquote>
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Speaks lots of languages too.<br><br>
Worth remembering Cheika's side would have been knocked out by Scotland in RWC quarter final but for a ref cock up. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="608999" data-time="1472125531">
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Worth remembering Cheika's side would have been knocked out by Scotland in RWC quarter final but for a ref cock up.</p>
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<p>And that we beat SA by 2 points after SA had been beaten by Japan.... </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="608970" data-time="1472118742">
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<p>I don't think they are going backwards they are just static and havn't improved. I do think they will go backwards this week at a rate of knots with Quade being on the field...but then he will be dropped<br>
and sent back to inner sanctum of rugby purgatory where he belongs.<br><br>
England have stepped up a level and had they been that good at the world cup would have made the final and with a home crowd may have even knocked us off.<br>
Please note the detail, "with a home crowd", which is an immense advantage in a world cup final.<br><br>
I think other teams have just moved forward this year.<br><br>
New Zealand are a mystery to me. Their whole performance in this year's Super XV competition was out of the box. 4 teams, the Saders, Chiefs, Canes, and Landers<br>
played test match standard rugby all year and would beat most international teams in the world not named England. I don't know why we blossomed this year. But it happened.<br>
Somehow New Zealand rugby is going through a purple patch. Maybe it is just because Barrett, Lima, and Cruden are entering their prime years.<br>
Or maybe the all blacks who won the world cup last year grew in confidence and it effected their provincial team mates. Whatever the reason the ABs are better.</p>
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<p>I see no mystery - there is a long term plan put together by Sir Graham and Steve Tew, actively supported by five Super Rugby franchises and twenty six provinces, with clear routes for players to follow to make it to the main stage; where the planning is so precise that the current All Blacks captain trained in the job under the immediate past captain; the current All Blacks No 7 trained in the job under the immediate past No 7; and the next coach will likely sit with Steve Hansen for a couple of years before he moves in, learning the job.</p>
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<p>I saw a couple of examples of where that quality of forward planning leads just last weekend - the All Blacks have seen off Andrew Hore then Kevan Mealamu in the past three years, fabulous hookers. Dane Coles stepped in with the benefit of a three year apprenticeship. He was injured at a most inconvenient time for this series yet the selectors had three alternatives to consider, each with Super Rugby experience and each with a close familiarity with the All Blacks way. The other thing I noticed was in watching parts of the first round of the NPC on Saturday - the precision and speed we see from the All Blacks is being replicated there too.</p>
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<p>None of this has come about by chance and every part of it has been years in the making.</p> -
<p>Stop being so sensible Mick. We're here to kick Cheika in the nuts, your sort of rationality is sorely misplaced.</p>
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<p>The England to Whitewash Australia thread before the series started is worth a reread for a good laugh. A rallying cry was "Look how far the team have come from McKenzie". They had two solid performances against NZ in his last year including a draw and last minute loss.</p>
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<p>A few also wax lyrical about his inspirational press conferences being integral to his wizardry. Now his press conferences resemble a sad puppy dog pouting that people are kicking him while he is down.</p>
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<p>The thing is the easiest time to coach is in your first year where you can shake up selection, tactics, captaincy etc, second easiest time is a world cup year when you have maximum buy in. Cheika had both at once. Now he has to build something over 4 years, this is a completely different gig than what he did in the 12 month sprint he did last year.</p>
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<p>Lastly twice in the past seven games Cheika has taken full blame for stuffing up the preparation - the Scottish QF and then last week. Either this is a tactic which will have diminishing returns or it's the truth in which case do you want someone who bottles it so regularly in high pressure fixtures.</p>
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<p>A large part of Cheika's undoing (along with Deans and McKensie) is that they have too much ego to hire a decent assistant panel. Steve Hansen I'm sure has had the odd poor week or unfocused week or pushed the wrong buttons - but he has a team around him that is going to be able to compensate for that and challenge him before he goes too far down the wrong path. Cheika has assembled an army of yes-men and rookies rather than a panel of equals.</p>
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<p>Make sure the referee's changing shed is locked this week that's all I can say.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="608969" data-time="1472118577"><p>
I cant believe im saying this ,<br><br>
But im a bit concerned for Australian rugby to be honest ,<br><br>
years ago when they were a powerhouse I wouldve thought I would be celebrating this ,<br><br>
but for the benefit of international rugby , im not so sure this is good thing if we keep flogging them</p></blockquote>
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I'm cool with it, it's like the neighbours dog that ran up and down your fence barking it's head off from 1998-2003 then its owner backed over it in the driveway and every time you leave for work you see the thing moping on its porch with a bucket around its neck to stop it licking its festering wounds.
