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Wallabies selector reveals 'shambolic' behind-the-scenes problems at 2019 World Cup
By Online Editors
An Australian World Cup selector has revealed the chaos behind the Wallabies' failed campaign, and claimed part of coach Michael Cheika's game plan was "like a scam".
The controversial Cheika resigned after last year's World Cup, his strained relationship with Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle among the many problems.
Michael O'Connor, appointed as a selector after the disastrous 2018 season, told the Sydney Morning Herald the players should have stood up to Cheika.
Members of the Wallaby squad doubted Cheika's strategies but they were not strong enough as a group to confront the coach. O'Connor also described what sounded like shambolic training sessions.
O'Connor, a former Wallaby himself, also agreed with star back Kurtley Beale, who said Australia had been "really hindered" by constant selection changes.
"The players have to take some responsibility too with Michael Cheika – they should have voiced those concerns to the coach," O'Connor said.
"It was brought up quietly (with O'Connor) by a few players that the high-risk strategy (wasn't working). Somebody needed to stand up.
"We had some reasonably strong personalities but we didn't have a strong enough group.
"They didn't challenge Michael and the style of footy they were asked to play. There were players in the team that weren't sold on it.
"It was one of the failings form that campaign; players who clearly weren't sold on the style of play either didn't voice their concern or were afraid of ramifications."
O'Connor was reportedly "flabbergasted" at what he saw at the private training sessions.
"I've never seen as much dropped ball from a national team. That was disturbing," he said.
"Situations where you've got (prop) Sekope Kepu trying to tip on balls in midfield like he's Mark Ella, front-rowers playing like centres when they should be hitting the ball up…you train the way you play."
"When you look back on it: what was it?" O'Connor said.
"That new attacking style he was going to bring to the Wallabies; it was so secretive and he had to play players out of Super commitments and fly them to Brisbane and educate them. I don't know. It was almost like a scam.
"I always thought he was holding back. I always thought he had something in reserve and was being very cagey. But he didn't. It was always going to end in tears."
O'Connor said Castle, who has since been deposed, was "hell-bent on trying to rein in Michael Cheika, and that was always going to be difficult".
"He's a particular sort of person, very strong-willed. Michael (Cheika) wasn't appointed by her. It was a difficult, awkward situation."
O'Connor said Cheika wanted to fly solo as a selector, although that wasn't unusual for a coach.
Australia crashed out of the World Cup with a 16 – 40 defeat to England in the quarter-finals.
Cheika was angry that his power had been diluted when Castle appointed Scott Johnson above him as rugby director, as well as a selector. The extent of problems within the Aussie rugby camp were exposed by a huge argument between Cheika and Castle at the World Cup in Japan.
O'Connor is confident about Australia's future, with quality players coming through and good coaches like former All Black Brad Thorn in the ranks.
The 59-year-old O'Connor was a superb outside back who played for the Wallabies and Kangaroos. He also coached Australia's sevens team.
He has been released as a selector because of the virus related financial issues.
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Skelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
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