IT WAS A strange week for Michael Cheika back on Irish soil.
Clearly, priority number one for the former Leinster head coach was securing a win over Joe Schmidt’s Ireland, but there were also reunions aplenty as the Australian bumped into old friends.
His primary mission failed at the Aviva Stadium last night, and the Wallabies boss admitted defeat hurt that little bit more against many familiar faces.
“It’s hard to really like people and then want to go out and smash them on Saturday, you know?” smiled Cheika post-match.
But that’s rugby and it’s very disappointing for me to lose to them as well. You want to beat them because you like them and respect them. It’s very mixed emotions the whole week.
“I knew everyone was lying to me when they said ‘good luck,’ but I think that’s the nature of rugby. It’s one of the great things about rugby, that atmosphere where you have mixed emotions.”
Although Cheika bemoaned some of referee Glen Jackson’s decision during Ireland’s 26-23 victory, he was also quick to put his hands up and accept that his Wallabies team hadn’t done enough.
“I’m not an excuse-maker,” said Cheika, “so I don’t want to look for excuses at all.”
The ex-back row indicated that the Wallabies played against “a rain of bombs, a lot of high kicking,” from Ireland, but was pleased with his own team’s ability to frequently win the collisions and then threaten wider out.
Cheika stated that Australia had not been surprised by the Irish tactics, and also underlined that he felt his forwards had stood up to the test well.
“I think they probably thought that when they [Ireland] carried ball they could out-muscle us a bit. I think most teams think they can out-muscle us there, so it’s up to us to harden right up and belie that image that there is of us. I’m not sure why it’s there.
“We knew they’d kick high, we knew they’d kick away from Folau a lot. They pretty much did what we’d seen before and what has been a very successful formula for them.
“Obviously they were kicking a lot, so when they kicked to us and we kicked back to them, we found ourselves a little bit short a couple of times back there.
But all in all, I thought it was a really improved performance from the week before [against France] and I was really disappointed not to get the result.”
As Cheika turns his attention to next weekend and a clash with Stuart Lancaster’s England, he is certain that Ireland are well placed to be contenders at next year’s Rugby World Cup.
“They’ve got a very clear style of rugby and they’re doing it very well. They’ll back themselves to do that and they’re obviously going to be a big threat going into the World Cup next year, no doubt about it.”
Reporting by Sean Farrell.
I really fear when Paulie retires. I can’t see any of our locks with the same grunt and sheer brutal desire to win as him. He will leave massive hole.
I’ve a feeling that O’Connell will do a Matfield on it and be there past the WC. His style and professionalism has rubbed off on a generation of new players. O’Mahony will be a similar vein, I think he had started and has taken a step back a bit while the big man is still there. He supports POC rather than tries to take over from him. O’Brien strikes me as someone with the same drive and aggression and I think as he matures he’ll have the same capacity to lead. People like BOD and POC have changed irish rugby forever. Their effect on players mindsets, drive and professionalism will be there forever. I worry about a day when there is no POC on the team sheet but only cos it will be a shame to see such a great leave the game.
I worry that SOB will end up the same as Stephan ferris
Sean O’Brien and Luke Fitzgerald are looking unlikely to play the game again, heartbreaking stuff really.
I’d say POC will play will 37
What is it about the longevity of second rows?
Simon Shaw played professional rugby till he was 40 and Brad Thorn is playing for the Tigers at the ripe old age of 38.
Speed isn’t an issue for them and I’m guessing they are less susceptible to serious injuries as the are not tackling players at the speeds the backline players get up to?
I hope you are wrong!
Was Cheika bemoaning some of the refs decisions?
They got a try from a forward pass and the and there should have been at least one yellow card for a deliberate knock on
Also a couple of the line out decisions were a bit harsh on Ireland
Can’t say the ref was particularly biased to us?
Cheika was right about the ref’s decisions. But not if he’s inferring the decisions all went Ireland’s way. It was one of the most shambolic refereeing performances I’ve ever seen.
As well as Kearney getting blatantly tackled in the air and only getting a penalty and seeing that he got a penalty the ref obviously knew he was tackled in the air which should automatically be a yellow.
Worry worry worry
Injuries aside POC will be there until after WC. The determination he brings rubs off on players. See it when he comes in as waterboy when injured Foley brings grunt that we miss Donocha Ryan for. If he gets more international exposure he will be POCs sucessor. Hope O’ Brien makes it back, back row options world class. Half backs world class. POC world class. Full back best around. Need cover at tight head but it could be a sensational WC if we are injury free.
Injury free. That really is the key isn’t it??
Munster really need POC/POM/CM to be available foe Clermont. Neither 3 held back yesterday. Vital match. Have to say Kearney was superb yesterday. Looking at Leinster tonight…they really need him.
Anyone know why it is that England seem to always get to play the 3 big Southern Hemisphere teams? And the rest only play 2 of them?
Robert Behan . Did you see the tackle that Paul put in with 5 mins to go !!. No care for himself there…just for the team.
The only interesting tactic Aussie had was the hit and spin off load. The Ireland game plan was more innovative simply in the change of tactics in the second half. With confidence growing in the Ireland back line would like to see audacious “Barrett” type chip kicks or drop goals from out wide. Would like to see this Ireland team introduce rugby “football” skills just to keep opposition guessing.
Bad loser