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'Very excited': Ex-Wallabies boss Michael Cheika takes up a director of rugby role outside Australia
By AAP
Former Australia coach Michael Cheika has been appointed director of rugby at Japan's Green Rockets. Cheika, who had coaching spells with Leinster, Stade Francais and the NSW Waratahs, took charge of the Wallabies in 2014 before stepping down in 2019 after their quarter-final exit at the World Cup.
He took a consultancy role with Argentina in September and helped guide Mario Ledesma's side to their breakthrough 25-15 win over the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations last year. "I'm very excited to be joining NEC in this new role," said Cheika, 54, in a statement 19 months after his last game in charge of Australia.
"Together with the company, the coaches and the players we will aspire to bring back the DNA of the NEC Green Rockets to bring pride and enjoyment to the whole NEC community. I look forward to working hard together with everyone to orchestrate a brighter world for NEC rugby and rugby in Japan."
The franchise finished bottom of the White Conference after losing all seven of their first-stage Top League games this season.
They beat second-division side Toyota Industries Shuttles - the club ex-England player Freddie Burns was playing for - in the playoff first round before losing to Suntory Sungoliath, who face Panasonic Wild Knights in Sunday's final.
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I still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
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