Under-fire Cheika ‘has to go’, says Wallabies Burke
SYDNEY: Wallabies legend Matt Burke has urged Rugby Australia to axe Michael Cheika along with his coaching staff after a review was announced into their positions less than a year before the World Cup.
The two-time world champions have won just four Tests this year and slipped to sixth in the world rankings, heaping pressure on Cheika as a sense of turmoil engulfs the national side. Burke said the Wallabies needed change “from the top down”, calling for Cheika and his assistants, Stephen Larkham and Nathan Grey, to go.
“Michael Cheika after that (season) has to go” Burke, who played 81 Tests for Australia and was a World Cup winner in 1999, told Big Sports Breakfast radio. “There has to be a change. I don’t think just getting rid of the assistant coaches will be enough,” he added.
Despite club success at Leinster and the NSW Waratahs, Cheika has struggled to stamp his authority on a Wallabies side that is replete with world-class players, but has consistently underperformed of late.
“I think they have to change it from the top down. Getting rid of the assistant coaches won’t be enough because it’s still the same voice,” said Burke. “At the moment it’s untenable when you’re looking at the situation from the coaches and then the high performance managers and the rest of it.”
Rugby Australia has promised a decision on Cheika and his coaching staff “ahead of Christmas”. Cheika’s contract is due to run out in a year and he had previously received the backing of Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle to take the Wallabies to the World Cup in Japan.
However, three defeats out of four on their northern hemisphere tour renewed the pressure on Cheika, who took the Wallabies to the last World Cup final in 2015.
Meanwhile, New Zealand three-quarter Ben Smith will join Pau after next year’s Rugby World Cup, the club’s president told French broadcaster RMC Sport on Tuesday. Smith lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in 2015 and the 32-year-old has featured on 76 occasions for his country, scoring 33 tries since making his international debut in 2009.
He will move to an unnamed Japanese club after finishing the 2020 Top 14 season and will be unable to feature for his national side while playing outside of New Zealand. “It’s a great satisfaction. He will have an impact on the squad and considering his calibre it will allow him to help our youngsters,” Bernard Pontneau said. On the other hand, New Zealand back-rower Ardie Savea will not join the club who sit in 11th place in the table, despite originally agreeing a three-year deal in the autumn.
The 36-time All Black has decided to re-sign with the New Zealand Rugby Union. His brother Julian plays for Toulon in the France’s top tier.