Bold coaching good for Waratahs

replaced Michael Foley as coach of the Waratahs in the off-season. That was when the Sydney-based team were at a low ebb after finishing 11th in the 15-team Super Rugby competition.

Linking up with former Leinster deputy Alan Gaffney, Cheika has been unable to bring about a dramatic change in the Waratahs’ fortunes in his first season.

The team are almost certain to miss the playoffs.

However, they have already doubled last year’s total of four wins with one match left to play before the playoffs, shedding the “brittle” tag that dogged them last season.

They play the Lions at Sydney Football Stadium today shorn of eight test-capped players who are at a training camp with the Australia squad in Queensland, and with another clutch of internationally experienced players ruled out with injury.

The second-string players thrown to the Lions are unlikely to be daunted by the challenge under Cheika’s watch, Heaslip added.

“Knowing Cheiks, he’s definitely sticking it to the guys who are there and motivating them, that this is their chance because those guys aren’t around.

“I wouldn’t put it past him if the pads they’re hitting all week were red, or they put red jerseys on the opposition.

“He’s really, really passionate about his rugby and he wants people to go 100 %flat out, like he does.

“He doesn’t like people holding back. He doesn’t like people hiding.”