DURING A SKYPE conversation with a media colleague in Australia, I mentioned Michael Cheika’s name and was met with this response: “Aw, cheers for letting us have him back mate. He’s gold.”
If there is one thing Australia is not in short supply of, it is characters. The nation that couldn’t give a Castlemaine XXXX for what you think of them, ushered back ‘Cheiks’ after his lengthy stint in Europe with Leinster and Stade Francais. With rugby competing with League and Aussie Rules for media attention, the forthright coach and proven winner was a welcome sight.
Midway through his first season as head coach with the New South Wales Waratahs, the man who won Celtic League (2008) and Heineken Cup (2009) with Leinster is slowly easing into life in Sydney. Today, from 10:40am, his ‘Tahs side are expected to give the British and Irish Lions a stern examination.
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Shane Jennings, who played under Cheika at Leinster, is certain that the Australian will be targeting a Lions scalp to leave a lasting mark with the Waratahs.
Jennings told TheScore.ie, “The Leinster lads over there all know Cheiks pretty well and have a massive amount of respect for him. He deserves a lot of credit for what he did with Leinster.
I can’t speak highly enough about him. He instilled in us that desire for winning and an appreciation for hard work. He brought that mentality to us and its legacy remains to this day. He has a reputation for being hot-headed – a roarer and a shouter – but that’s not the case. He was very shrewd and meticulous about how he went about his job.”
Jennings believes Cheika’s posting with the Waratahs is for the long-term and that his former coach will soon have the Sydney side challenging for top Super Rugby honours. A win over the world-famous Lions, he adds, could drive the ‘Tahs on towards Grand Final success in the near future. High calibre players such as Israel Folau, Adam Ashley Cooper and Berrick Barnes are still in Wallaby camp but the Lions will not have it easy at Allianz Stadium.
Jennings said, “Cheiks would really love to have a cut off the opposition. He’s a Sydney lad and won’t like the idea of the Lions coming in and getting anything easy. However, I genuinely believe the Lions are too strong and will have too much power, whatever way the Waratahs line up.
“The lads, like Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip, that are playing have a good relationship with him but they will not want to see him walking off the pitch at full-time, smiling like a Cheshire Cat.”
*TheScore.ie will be liveblogging all the Lions v Waratahs action from 10am this morning.
Irish Lions eager to keep 'Cheshire Cat grin' off Michael Cheika's face
DURING A SKYPE conversation with a media colleague in Australia, I mentioned Michael Cheika’s name and was met with this response: “Aw, cheers for letting us have him back mate. He’s gold.”
If there is one thing Australia is not in short supply of, it is characters. The nation that couldn’t give a Castlemaine XXXX for what you think of them, ushered back ‘Cheiks’ after his lengthy stint in Europe with Leinster and Stade Francais. With rugby competing with League and Aussie Rules for media attention, the forthright coach and proven winner was a welcome sight.
Midway through his first season as head coach with the New South Wales Waratahs, the man who won Celtic League (2008) and Heineken Cup (2009) with Leinster is slowly easing into life in Sydney. Today, from 10:40am, his ‘Tahs side are expected to give the British and Irish Lions a stern examination.
Shane Jennings, who played under Cheika at Leinster, is certain that the Australian will be targeting a Lions scalp to leave a lasting mark with the Waratahs.
Jennings told TheScore.ie, “The Leinster lads over there all know Cheiks pretty well and have a massive amount of respect for him. He deserves a lot of credit for what he did with Leinster.
Jennings believes Cheika’s posting with the Waratahs is for the long-term and that his former coach will soon have the Sydney side challenging for top Super Rugby honours. A win over the world-famous Lions, he adds, could drive the ‘Tahs on towards Grand Final success in the near future. High calibre players such as Israel Folau, Adam Ashley Cooper and Berrick Barnes are still in Wallaby camp but the Lions will not have it easy at Allianz Stadium.
Jennings said, “Cheiks would really love to have a cut off the opposition. He’s a Sydney lad and won’t like the idea of the Lions coming in and getting anything easy. However, I genuinely believe the Lions are too strong and will have too much power, whatever way the Waratahs line up.
“The lads, like Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip, that are playing have a good relationship with him but they will not want to see him walking off the pitch at full-time, smiling like a Cheshire Cat.”
*TheScore.ie will be liveblogging all the Lions v Waratahs action from 10am this morning.
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Australia cheiks insider knowledge Leinster Lions 2013 Michael Cheika Rugby Shane Jennings British and Irish Lions Waratahs