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Video: 'I'm sticking it to myself' - Cheika comes out fighting after Wallabies beat Springboks
By Rob Lancaster
Michael Cheika was happy to see Australia "tough it out" in their win over South Africa - and revealed a late reshuffle for Saturday's clash left him needing to issue an apology.
Adam Coleman had been due to start for the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship fixture at Suncorp Stadium, only to pull out just hours before kick-off for family reasons.
The second-rower returned home to be with his pregnant wife, forcing Cheika to promote Izack Rodda from the bench and summon Rob Simmons back from club duty.
Simmons had left the squad to play in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) in Sydney at the behest of the Wallabies boss, only to then fly back to join the squad in Brisbane in time for the game.
Israel Folau also dropped out of the squad at late notice due to an ankle injury, yet Australia went on to triumph 23-18 and open their account in this year's competition.
"Adam's wife's heavily pregnant so it looked like things were happening, so he needed to go back home, family first," Cheika said.
"We all know that, that's what we're like in our team here. There was no question of getting back there to be with her tonight.
"The other boys filled in pretty quickly.
"Simmo [Simmons], who we sent back to Sydney to play NRC, I feel so guilty because I forced the Sydney guys to make him play and then I rang the coach Chris Whitaker at 12:30 or 1 o'clock and said, 'mate, I need this bloke back on a plane'.
"He didn't have another player, I'm not sure if they played with 22 so I apologise."
The result eases the pressure on Cheika following back-to-back defeats against Bledisloe Cup rivals New Zealand.
South Africa led 18-17 at the break but a pair of second-half penalties from Matt Toomua secured a much-needed result for the former Waratahs boss.
"When people stick it to us, it's only because they want us to do better," Cheika told Fox Sports. "I'm sticking it to myself most of the time when it doesn’t go right.
"I'm happy for the fans that came out here and were able to tough it out."
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Latest Comments
Reiko should be the dual winger guy as he should be used to playing either side given he's had to do both at 13 (pass and step left/right).
Maybe he has such a bad preference that that's why he's not a good center?
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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