Wallabies will perform better: Cheika
WELLINGTON: Hammered on the field and pilloried by fans and local media off it, the woefully out-of-form Wallabies have even been called delusional by one of their former players this week.
Such is the perceived gulf in class between Australia and New Zealand, bookmakers on both sides of the Tasman Sea have made the All Blacks almost unbackable favourites before their Rugby Championship clash in Wellington tomorrow.
Coach Michael Cheika, however, was not quite prepared to wave the white flag and leave the Bledisloe Cup, the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy, in New Zealand Rugby’s trophy cabinet, where it has sat since 2003.
His reasoning was that the side had been backed into a corner after their 42-8 loss to the world champions in Sydney last week and there was not much else they could do but simply perform better.
“It’s very easy for people to jump on and put the boot in,” Cheika, chan-
15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9-Aaron Smith; 8 Kieran Read (Captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody.
16 James Parsons, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Liam Squire, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Seta Tamanivalu nelling Shylock’s ‘if you prick us, do we not bleed?’ speech from the Merchant of Venice, said today.
“That obviously hurts us. (But) we’ll take it because we haven’t performed, but when it gets tough, that’s the time when you show your colours. I know where my colours are.”
Cheika understood that fans, the media and former players had every right to criticise the team, even publicly, but he had been encouraged by the quiet support offered by others.
“There is a lot of ex-players who contact you (privately) ... and say
15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley Cooper, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Bernard Foley, 11 Dane HaylettPetty, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore (Captain), 1 Scott Sio
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17-James Slipper, 18 Allan Ala’alatoa, 19 Will Skelton, 20 Dean Mumm, 21 Nick Phipps 22 Tevita Kuridrani, 23 Reece Hodge 9.35am (tomorrow) ‘we understand that it’s painful but we support you’, because they will support Australians no matter what,” Cheika said.
The Wallabies were blown off the park by the All Blacks’ speed of pass and ability to get their hands free when they were brought to ground last Saturday, while Steve Hansen’s side were ably assisted by an astonishing 40 missed tackles.
Cheika, however, felt his team’s tactics had been right. They simply did not execute them and that made the performance not good enough.
His job this week had been to build up the team’s confidence. To question each player as individuals and ask them what they could do better when they ran out tomorrow he said.
“Over the week you need to regain your confidence and belief and say how are we going to do this and work out the way you can come back,” he said.
“We feel like we’re in a pretty good space there, so we will see how we go.”
Meanwhile, Julian Savea has returned to the All Blacks’ starting side for the second Bledisloe Test in a backline reshuffle that will also hand Anton Lienert-Brown his debut.
Savea’s mediocre Super Rugby form saw him relegated to the bench for the title-winners, the Hurricanes, and had his inclusion in the wider All Blacks squad questioned. But a strong showing in the opening Bledisloe Test and an injury to Waisake Naholo have paved the way for him to start.
Lienert-Brown replaces injured centre Ryan Crotty in the matchday 23, with Seta Tamanivalu coming off the bench. – Reuters