Record-breakers happy to move on
Overshadowed amid the controversial fallout surrounding Michael Cheika’s explosive rant, the All Blacks achieved something very special at Eden Park, and one day later continued to future proof their record-breaking squad.
The 37-10 scoreline fails to tell the true story of Saturday’s torrid test, one the All Blacks were made to work harder than they have all season by a spirited Wallabies outfit. Injuries to world-class locks Sam Whitelock, out for 3-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain, and Brodie Retallick’s concussion – the result of an illegal elbow from Wallabies loose forward Dean Mumm – shine further light on the combative contest.
Tensions between the transTasman neighbours ran high on the pitch with several scuffles, and hit new lows post-match as Cheika took aim at officials, media and the All Blacks.
The significance of becoming the first team to win 18 consecutive tests against tier one opposition was highlighted, but didn’t receive the same recognition had Cheika not let rip. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen went as far to say his counterpart ‘‘hijacked’’ their celebrations.
In the All Blacks sheds, their history-making victory was duly toasted but frustrations bubbled just below the surface.
‘‘We’ve found over the years there’s certain people who want to say certain things. We’ve just got to worry about ourselves. We know how big the milestone was. We enjoyed it as a group,’’ All Blacks captain Kieran Read said.
‘‘It’s one of those things, a record, you’ll look back on in the future. It’s great for us; it’s part of our legacy that’s going to be there for as long as it can be. If Michael wants to say different things like that we’ll just move on.’’
The All Blacks are never content, and will soon switch focus to circling a new target before departing for the end-of-year tour. But with so much hype around reaching 18, and having botched three chances to do so previously, resetting may prove difficult. Exhaling can be dangerous in this game, even when so far ahead of the pack.
‘‘We’ve got to reassess,’’ Read said. ‘‘We can’t just keep going with what we’ve been planning for at the moment. We turn up each week with a new plan for what we need to do to perform.
‘‘We’ve got a young enough team and enough guys who keep pushing the lads who get the opportunity. That’s the best thing that’s been happening so far; everyone outside the group keeping the starters honest.’’
Therein lies the crux of the All Blacks’ major strength: depth. Whitelock will be missed, but with powerhouse lock Patrick Tuiplotu waiting in the wings, Canterbury’s Scott Barrett now being brought into the frame for the first time and Wellington’s Vaea Fifita on the fringe, the rejuvenation of this team seems never ending. Throw in two teenagers, Blues and sevens star Rieko Ioane and soon-to-be Hurricanes utility Jordie Barrett who will travel north as a nonplaying apprentice, and it’s hard not to be enthused about this team’s long-term prospects. OPINION: Professional coaching is not a career for the sensitive soul, and if Michael Cheika wants to survive leading the Wallabies, he must quickly develop a thicker skin than the one he displayed at Eden Park.
No-one, no matter what their public persona, is immune from having emotions dented. But there is a time and a place for airing those frustrations and grievances. Doing so after your side has suffered another one-sided defeat is not the forum. It merely gives the impression you seek to deflect attention from your own issues.
Cheika had legitimate beef about Henry Speight’s no-try ruling, and the Sydney bugging incident has been left to drag on far too long with seemingly no conclusion in sight. No doubt there’s more controversy to come on that front.
But after three wins from 10 tests this year, Cheika is clearly a man under siege. It’s a far cry from the successful Waratahs mentor who was lauded for transforming the Wallabies overnight, guiding them to last year’s World Cup final, and being recognised as World Rugby coach of the year in the process. Back then, he seemed to enjoy a bit of banter and share a laugh.
Australian rugby’s new saviour is now suffering a bad case of second -year syndrome, quickly discovering the international area isn’t as easy as first seemed.
His selections appear muddled; his default off-field approach aggressive.
Poor taste or not, getting riled by a newspaper cartoon shows where his mental state is at. Unequivocally stating the All Blacks had something to do with him being dressed as a clown is just plain madness.
Ireland are the next frontier in back-to-back tests in Chicago and Dublin, followed by a chance to experiment against Italy in Rome, with the unknown French challenge to finish the year in Paris.
Eighteen now knocked off, it
As for sharing a post-match beer, that’s a two way street. There’s no point having one with a sour taste.
Newspapers will continue to poke fun at those in positions of power. Cheika is far from alone there. Politicians get it every day. It rubs people up the wrong way from time to time but that’s why they are paid the big bucks.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen knows the drill. He endured a terrible time of it in Wales – a journalist there once asked him if he had ‘‘lost the plot’’.
Hansen also failed in his attempts to take on the media in the early stages of his All Blacks career. Former TVNZ boss Ian Fraser helped Hansen perform an image makeover, and he is now well placed to recognise a meltdown when he sees one. It’s always easier when you’re on top, but Hansen’s response to Cheika yesterday, as trans-Tasman relations hit rock bottom, was simple: ’’stop whining’’.
After 14 years of Bledisloe Cup dominance, and now the first dual 3-0 series defeats in the same season, cracks are beginning to appear in Cheika’s methods.
His extraordinary post-match rant achieved little other than setting himself up as a target. He came across as fragile. If extracting a reaction is that easy, the English tabloids will be sharpening their pencils at the chance to get creative when the Wallabies arrive in London on their now crucial end-of-year tour.
Cheika is a passionate man who openly displays his emotions.
There’s no doubt he cares deeply about the Wallabies, about Australian rugby. But he needs to realise images of him flying off the handle in the coaches box at decisions he doesn’t agree with does him no favours. At Eden Park, it simply gave the locals a chance to revel in his anger.
could well be 22 by late November.
Even on an off day the All Blacks are so difficult to put away. Catch me if you can may be the new motto.