EVEN WITH A World Cup final less than 48 hours away, Michael Cheika manages to maintain the humorous, entertaining side of his character that he so often presents in public.
Cheika was in good form again this afternoon in London. Christophe Ena
Christophe Ena
Michael Hooper and Adam Ashley-Cooper flank the Australia head coach at their team hotel, but every question in the 14-minute press conference is directed at the former Leinster boss.
One Kiwi journalist gets straight to his point.
“Michael, did you use the phrase ‘All Blacks’ in your camp this week?”
A smile from Chieka before he answers in a roundabout way.
“I’ve read a bit about that where they’re having a bit of a crack at me thinking that I don’t say that, for a certain reason,” he says. “But if you notice, it’s pretty funny, I never call Australia ‘the Wallabies’ either.
I’m really a bit old fashioned that way. I think Australia is Australia, New Zealand is New Zealand, France is France, and it’s a battle between nations on that stage. That’s why. There’s no secret squirrel, you know what I…”
The New Zealander cuts across him.
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“Can you say ‘All Blacks’?”
A big laugh from Chieka this time, before he replies and brings laughter from everyone else in the room.
“Can I say ‘All Blacks’ now for ya? Ok, hang on….”
Cheika suddenly contorts his body and makes choking noises as if being possessed by a demon.
“Poltergeist!” he shouts before straightening back up with a big grin. “No mate, maybe everyone’s got a little bit too much time on their hands, because that’s sort of making something out of nothing, that one.”
Cheika has a game face too. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
A rather bizarre situation, and perhaps the strongest sign yet that everyone has been away from home for a little too long, but it also shows the laidback side to Cheika that makes him so popular amongst supporters and media.
He has the most ruthless and intimidating of edges behind the scenes, one that results in players being “scared shitless” of him, but Cheika is an engaging figure when he’s in the mood in front of an audience.
Whatever about the jokes, the Australians play the best team in the world on Saturday, one that has lost just three times since Steve Hansen was promoted from his role as assistant coach following the 2011 World Cup success.
Cheika says his players have no fear of what they will face at Twickenham, instantly switching the discussion to his own men’s quality and values, as is his wont.
The 48-year-old has had success in the Magners League, Heineken Cup, Super Rugby and Rugby Championship, but Saturday is the very peak of the game. The fact that he gets to do it with his home nation makes it all the more meaningful for Cheika.
“Personally, it’s been a journey since I’ve been involved in this team into my own nationality, my own appreciation of Australia,” says Cheika. “Maybe I didn’t have it in perspective as much, not being involved in anything like that.
“It puts it into a certain perspective. We’re not all guys who have camped out by the billabong, wearing cork hats, you know? We’re different people and we’ve come together to try and make our lives better.
Cheika is a proud Australian. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
“That’s a lot of what Australia’s about and I think all we’ve wanted to do is just have some of that in us, that identity, to try and add to it.
“That whole bit about respect between people, diversity, I’ve really enjoyed learning about that with this team and putting our bodies on the line for each other in the game, working hard for each other, doing a lot of the stuff that we know on Saturday will be absolutely essential, the stuff people won’t even see, maybe the stuff that we don’t even need a lot of talent to do.”
Cheika’s teams have always played an attractive brand of attacking rugby, from Leinster to the Waratahs and now the Wallabies, but the firm impression is that the “stuff” he refers to above means the most to him.
As does the act of being well prepared. Every time you speak to Michael Chieka, this is what he preaches and a World Cup final makes no difference.
“People like to talk about the whole pressure thing, but for me… we love playing the game,” says Cheika. “If the game was still amateur, everyone would still be playing. There may not be as many journalists at this press conference, but everyone would still be playing because we love the game.
“The only time you feel pressure is if you haven’t prepared as best as you possibly can. Let’s prepare as best we can, go out there and do our best. I’ve said it before many times, the cards will fall where they fall.”
Cheika: 'We're not all guys camped out by the billabong, wearing cork hats'
Murray Kinsella reports from the Lensbury Hotel
EVEN WITH A World Cup final less than 48 hours away, Michael Cheika manages to maintain the humorous, entertaining side of his character that he so often presents in public.
Michael Hooper and Adam Ashley-Cooper flank the Australia head coach at their team hotel, but every question in the 14-minute press conference is directed at the former Leinster boss.
One Kiwi journalist gets straight to his point.
“Michael, did you use the phrase ‘All Blacks’ in your camp this week?”
A smile from Chieka before he answers in a roundabout way.
“I’ve read a bit about that where they’re having a bit of a crack at me thinking that I don’t say that, for a certain reason,” he says. “But if you notice, it’s pretty funny, I never call Australia ‘the Wallabies’ either.
The New Zealander cuts across him.
“Can you say ‘All Blacks’?”
A big laugh from Chieka this time, before he replies and brings laughter from everyone else in the room.
“Can I say ‘All Blacks’ now for ya? Ok, hang on….”
Cheika suddenly contorts his body and makes choking noises as if being possessed by a demon.
“Poltergeist!” he shouts before straightening back up with a big grin. “No mate, maybe everyone’s got a little bit too much time on their hands, because that’s sort of making something out of nothing, that one.”
A rather bizarre situation, and perhaps the strongest sign yet that everyone has been away from home for a little too long, but it also shows the laidback side to Cheika that makes him so popular amongst supporters and media.
He has the most ruthless and intimidating of edges behind the scenes, one that results in players being “scared shitless” of him, but Cheika is an engaging figure when he’s in the mood in front of an audience.
Whatever about the jokes, the Australians play the best team in the world on Saturday, one that has lost just three times since Steve Hansen was promoted from his role as assistant coach following the 2011 World Cup success.
Cheika says his players have no fear of what they will face at Twickenham, instantly switching the discussion to his own men’s quality and values, as is his wont.
The 48-year-old has had success in the Magners League, Heineken Cup, Super Rugby and Rugby Championship, but Saturday is the very peak of the game. The fact that he gets to do it with his home nation makes it all the more meaningful for Cheika.
“Personally, it’s been a journey since I’ve been involved in this team into my own nationality, my own appreciation of Australia,” says Cheika. “Maybe I didn’t have it in perspective as much, not being involved in anything like that.
“It puts it into a certain perspective. We’re not all guys who have camped out by the billabong, wearing cork hats, you know? We’re different people and we’ve come together to try and make our lives better.
“That’s a lot of what Australia’s about and I think all we’ve wanted to do is just have some of that in us, that identity, to try and add to it.
“That whole bit about respect between people, diversity, I’ve really enjoyed learning about that with this team and putting our bodies on the line for each other in the game, working hard for each other, doing a lot of the stuff that we know on Saturday will be absolutely essential, the stuff people won’t even see, maybe the stuff that we don’t even need a lot of talent to do.”
Cheika’s teams have always played an attractive brand of attacking rugby, from Leinster to the Waratahs and now the Wallabies, but the firm impression is that the “stuff” he refers to above means the most to him.
As does the act of being well prepared. Every time you speak to Michael Chieka, this is what he preaches and a World Cup final makes no difference.
“People like to talk about the whole pressure thing, but for me… we love playing the game,” says Cheika. “If the game was still amateur, everyone would still be playing. There may not be as many journalists at this press conference, but everyone would still be playing because we love the game.
“The only time you feel pressure is if you haven’t prepared as best as you possibly can. Let’s prepare as best we can, go out there and do our best. I’ve said it before many times, the cards will fall where they fall.”
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