Cheika’s F-bomb reeks of excuses
ZIP it Cheik. Enough.
The “f------ cheats” shout from the grandstand that has dumped the Wallabies coach in strife has tarnished him as a bad loser and eroded the “no excuses” culture he demands of his team.
World Rugby officials may yet take action over Michael Cheika’s unseemly crack during yesterday morning’s tense battle when three disputed try calls went against his team in a jolting 30-6 loss to Eddie Jones and his crowing England team.
The issue escalated with a gruff exchange with a television interviewer who asked him about the reaction following the wet-weather Test.
“No, I never said ... what are you talking (about)? Is that really what it’s come to?” Cheika said of his gaffe. “Yeah, maybe I did swear. “It happens sometimes in life. I’m sure you have as well.”
Australian rugby fans want a coach like Cheika, who is passionate, fierce, funny, frank and drives his team to wins over the All Blacks.
They don’t want to google “www.rugby.com.au” to find it stands for Worldwide Whingers.
Rugby followers these days are largely unmoved by the Fword, but they still demand dignity from those in charge of national teams.
Cheika gave a lame explanation that letting his anger and frustration bubble out immediately was best for him. ‘‘I like to get it out and get on with things. It’s not like it’s af- fecting anyone else.” Cheika’s fuse blew with his knee-jerk line and sarcastic hand-clapping when no-try was called on skipper Michael Hooper for being offside.
The Wallabies were reduced to 13 men for three minutes with Hooper (team infringements) and Kurtley Beale (deliberate knockdown of a pass) in the sin bin.
The Wallabies grittily conceded just three points when undermanned and would have levelled the Test at 13-13 after 69 minutes but for Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe delivering the worst call of the Test.
The English were so on the backfoot from a scything Marika Koroibete run that flanker Chris Robshaw was clearly offside at the ruck moments before he grabbed at the winger to save a try that was oddly rejected for Stephen Moore obstructing him.
The Wallabies seemed to pause after that incident, handing a faster-finishing England the momentum for three late tries.
Michael Cheika.