Stand by Cheika for Cup, says O’Driscoll

IRELAND and Lions legend Brian O’Driscoll has called on Rugby Australia to stick with Michael Cheika, saying it would be “very dangerous” to change coaches so close to the World Cup.

Under Cheika, the Wallabies have recorded their worst season in 50 years, winning just four out of 13 Tests.

This has led to RA launching a review of the Wallabies set-up, with the finding to be presented to the board on December 10.

But with just five more Tests before the Wallabies open their 2019 World Cup campaign in Sapporo against Fiji on September 21, O’Driscoll has called for Cheika to remain in the top job.

“It’s a very dangerous place to start replacing your coach less than 10 months out from the World Cup,” O’Driscoll said at the Dubai Sevens.

“If someone can turn it around Michael Cheika can — he was one coach after five years I never got bored of listening to.”

Cheika coached O’Driscoll at Leinster from 2005-10, claiming a PRO14 title in 2008 and the province’s first European Champions Cup title in 2009. Though O’Driscoll is adamant Cheika should stay in charge of the Wallabies, he did hint that changes in his management team were possible.

“Whether he has to change some personnel in his backroom staff to bring a bit of freshness in, I don’t know,” the 39-year-old said.

“But I’ve got a lot to admire in Michael Cheika.

“He’ll be finding it tough but he’s also a glass half-full sort of guy where he’ll feel he can turn it around in a short space of time and do something that the Australian public and rugby world don’t think is achievable, and possibly get to another World Cup final.”

Cheika led Australia to the 2015 World Cup final in London where they were defeated by the All Blacks 34-17.