Wallabies coach gets the wagons in a circle

MICHAEL Cheika has adopted a siege mentality at the Rugby World Cup, making the extraordinary claim that the sport’s authorities are against his team in Japan.

Cheika unleashed his fighting words after the three-week suspension handed down to winger Reece Hodge for a high tackle against Fiji.

The Wallabies are adamant Hodge’s tackle did not meet the redcard threshold and are still considering an appeal. What wound up Cheika further was the judiciary committee’s report which highlighted its “concern” that Hodge was unaware of World Rugby’s framework for decision-making on sanctions around high tackles.

The comment was picked up by media and painted the Wallabies in a poor light as teams have been told that players and coaches should be up to speed on the new regulations.

Cheika struck back, saying the framework is for referees and officials, not players, who are taught to avoid high tackles without needing to know what sort of sanction they might face. He found the comment unnecessary and could not fathom why it was released.

“I think there’s a part of it, and I’ve spoken to the boys about it, there’s a bit of us versus everyone else and we know that,” Cheika said.

“I’m not sure where it came from and why they put it in the judgment. We don’t need a framework to tell us where to tackle, we’re not teaching anyone to tackle anywhere else except the middle, where we can dislodge the ball.”

Cheika has overhauled his backline for Australia’s crucial pool match against Wales tomorrow, making four changes including the introduction of halves Bernard Foley and Will Genia.

Three players dropped from the starting XV that beat Fiji 39-21 are fullback Kurtley Beale, five-eighth Christian Lealiifano and halfback Nic White, who all had mixed outings in Sapporo on Saturday.