Cheika takes the reins at wounded Wallabies
No-nonsense coach Michael Cheika took over at the Wallabies on Wednesday, vowing to rally the shell-shocked side after the stunning walkout of previous manager Ewen McKenzie.
No-nonsense coach Michael Cheika took over at the Wallabies on Wednesday, vowing to rally the shell-shocked side after the stunning walkout of previous manager Ewen McKenzie.
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) heaped praise on the 47-year-old at a media conference to announce his appointment just two days before the start of a tough five-match European tour.
"Central to our decision was selecting a world-class coach who can lead us to victory in next year's Rugby World Cup," said ARU chief executive Bill Pulver.
[Cheika] is extremely passionate and has a strong track record of motivating teams to win through plenty of hard work
He described Cheika as "the only coach in history to coach both a European Cup winning side and a Super Rugby winning side".
"He is also extremely passionate and has a strong track record of motivating teams to win through plenty of hard work."
That record includes lifting the European Cup with Irish side Leinster in 2009 and the NSW Waratahs' maiden Super 15 title earlier this year. He was director of rugby with Stade Francais in Paris before returning to his hometown Sydney to coach the Waratahs.
He will need all his skills to turn round a Wallabies side that has lost successively to South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand and seen star player Kurtley Beale stood down over a sordid text message affair.
"I am going to have to work hard and learn quickly, but I am up for the challenge," said Cheika. I'll be doing my best, that's the only thing I can guarantee.
"I feel the key to any future success will be to ensure we have a strong identity and not letting anything get in the way of our preparation to succeed on the world stage."
But the mentor with a reputation for straight-talking said he did not want to talk about his Waratahs star Beale, who is up before a hearing on Friday in the latest in a series of off-field troubles, which ultimately led to McKenzie's departure.
The Wallabies fly to Europe on Friday looking for a new start on a five-match tour, which includes tests against Wales, France, Ireland and England, and kicks off against the Barbarians at Twickenham on November 1.
The tour sees the return of injured duo Matt Toomua and Ben McCalman and the inclusion of uncapped Melbourne Rebels back-row forward Sean McMahon.
He is one of five uncapped players alongside Western Force pair Tetera Faulkner (prop) and Kyle Godwin (centre), and wingers Henry Speight (ACT Brumbies) and Tom English (Rebels).
