41 CHEIKA’S HALFTIME RANT

The Wallabies had a horror year in terms of results – coming o• a poor November tour in 2017, they lost the June series to Ireland and were thumped in both Bledisloe test before beating South Africa and then losing to Argentina at home.

The pressure on coach Cheika was intense when the Wallabies arrived in Argentina – after another loss to the Boks – facing the prospect of finishing last in the Rugby Championship.

When they reached half-time 31-7 behind after a dreadful first half…it was impossible to see how Cheika, who would have presided over nine defeats in 11 tests had they lost, would be able to continue at the helm.

He knew it, too. So when the players came in he did what a coach can only do once in their career – he went properly nuts.

The CCTV camera saw him yelling, gesticulating, manhandling Will Genia and generally losing it.

But whatever he said…worked as unbelievably the Wallabies rescued the game with a 38-point second half blitz that saw them win 45-37.