Tell him he’s dreaming
GOOD ON WALLABIES COACH Michael Cheika for having a big ambition. But could he possibly be going a wee bit bonkers?
The Wallabies had a horrible June series where they were rusty against Fiji, lost to Scotland and were lucky to scrape past Italy.
They had numerous, obvious problems with their forwards, their execution, their attack, their defence, their everything.
They just didn’t look like a Wallaby team. They lacked confidence and authority and given they found it such hard work against Fiji and Italy and couldn’t deal with Scotland, what chance will they have against the All Blacks?
Well, here’s the thing, Cheika says they have to believe they can win. They have to retain a positive mindset and convince themselves they are a better team than the one they looked like in June.
“I don’t blame people, based on what’s happened this year overall, whether it be in Super Rugby or our games, I don’t blame people if they don’t believe in us,” he said.
“I believe it. I suppose that’s where it’s got to start. We’ve got to show it on the field and we will. That’s what the coach has got to do.
“He’s got to get them right, he’s got to get them in the right head space, make them believe and get them in the condition to believe that.
“That’s what I’ve been doing over these three weeks, and laying those foundations and that’s what we’ll continue to do before the tests.”