In disarray after drink and sex text scandals, can Australia go from chumps to champs?
LESS than a year ago, Australian rugby was in tatters. Two days before the Wallabies were due to depart for their annual European tour, no squad had been named, no coach had been appointed and no hope was being given.
A string of lurid text messages sent by full-back Kurtley Beale to a female Australia Rugby Union employee had already led to the departure of former coach Ewen McKenzie and the Wallabies’ hopes of mounting a credible World Cup challenge seemed slim to non-existent.
But a lot can happen in 12 months. Today, under new coach Michael Cheika, they take on Argentina at Twickenham as favourites to reach next Saturday’s World Cup Final.
It would complete a remarkable transformation for a group of players who arrived in Europe last November in disarray following a litany of alcohol-related disciplinary breaches which left Cheika, appointed 36 hours before the tour, facing an uphill task.
‘We were drawing a bit of a line in the sand, saying: “We needed to change”,’ said Wallaby wing Adam Ashley-Cooper before the World Cup. ‘ We spoke about who we wanted to be, an identity, how we needed to play for something more than ourselves, to achieve something special.’
Three defeats in four matches on Cheika’s first tour — including against England at Twickenham — did not bode well for the former Leinster and Waratahs boss, the only coach to have won both the European Cup and Super Rugby titles.
But a defining win over New Zealand in August ended a four-year drought by securing the Rugby Championship.
And the Wallabies’ displays in the World Cup, outclassing England and outgunning Wales in the toughest pool before last week’s controversial quarter-final win over Scotland, have illustrated the never-say-die attitude fostered under Cheika.
The 48-year-old from Coogee in Sydney drew up a document in conjunction with the players, outlining their commitment to the Wallaby shirt. It reads: ‘We want to be a player who is passionate, defined by excellence and worldclass standards, someone who doesn’t fear failure, who is ruthless in the tackle, relentless in defence.’
Cheika also ensured his best players were available for selection. He was instrumental in ensuring the Australian Rugby Union overhauled their policy of not picking players based overseas, with a decision taken in April that players with 60 caps or more could be selected regardless of where they plied their trade. Toulon’s Drew Mitchell and Matt Giteau have been instrumental in this tournament.
‘Michael’s a great leader and very passionate about what he does,’ said Ashley-Cooper. ‘He’ll do anything he can to improve himself and the team. That’s had a huge effect with everyone in the squad.’
With a reputation as a tough guy who is still prepared to take an active part in contact practice with his players, former No 8 Cheika is a hard taskmaster on the training pitch. But he has shown a softer side off it, banning the word ‘reserves’ and replacing it with ‘finishers’ so the eight players starting on the bench are recognised for their role.
After his appointment, Cheika brought in former Wallaby fly-half Stephen Larkham to add vim to Australia’s backs and former Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma to add bite to their scrum. Both coaching additions have worked, Ledesma spectacularly so. Cheika has also won over complex characters such as David Pocock and embraced potentially disruptive figures such as Beale and Quade Cooper.
‘I’ve really enjoyed being coached by Check,’ said Pocock. ‘Playing against his Waratahs teams for the Brumbies for a couple of years, I heard lots of stories. Now, I see a different side to him. He demands a lot but he cares for the players.’
Cheika has overhauled a dysfunctional group. The characters tamed but not toothless under a man who himself is an anti-establishment figure in a conservative sport still considered the domain of lawyers, doctors and bankers in Sydney.
Victory today would leave him standing on the brink of coaching greatness. Cheika has shown a year is a long time in rugby.