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Cheika fires back after accusations that Australia were doomed to failure at World Cup 2019

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Former Australia coach Michael Cheika has hit back at accusations from ex-selector Michael O’Connor that the Wallabies’ 2019 World Cup campaign “was always going to end in tears”.

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Dual-code international O’Connor claimed the tournament in Japan was doomed to failure due to confusion over Cheika’s game plan and poor training standards within the playing group.

Australia lost to Wales in the group stage before exiting the World Cup in the quarter-finals with a 40-16 thrashing by England, their equal worst finish at the tournament.

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Brumbies assistant coach Laurie Fisher sets the scene ahead of rugby’s July restart in Australia

Brumbies assistant coach Laurie Fisher speaks to media in Canberra ahead of their Super Rugby AU opener on July 4 against the Melbourne Rebels

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Brumbies assistant coach Laurie Fisher sets the scene ahead of rugby’s July restart in Australia

Brumbies assistant coach Laurie Fisher speaks to media in Canberra ahead of their Super Rugby AU opener on July 4 against the Melbourne Rebels

But, speaking to Rugby Australia’s official website, Cheika said O’Connor was rarely at training and that he was disappointed by his former colleague going public with his comments.

“Since the whole thing finished… I’ve not slagged anyone, not spoken poorly of any other person inside the organisation and I don’t want to,” Cheika said.

“At a certain point sometimes where the line is crossed on what the truth is you have to stand up and say, ‘This is not right and that person shouldn’t be talking like that’.”

O’Connor, who was recently released from his Rugby Australia contract due to financial constraints, was part of a selectors’ panel foisted upon former coach Cheika last year following a 2018 season in which the Wallabies won only four of 13 Test matches.

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The former international told the Sydney Morning Herald a number of players were unconvinced by Cheika’s attacking game plan. “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 (Rugby) commitments and fly them to Brisbane and educate them. I don’t know. It was almost like a scam.”

O’Connor also criticised the players for failing to stand up to their coach and tell him their concerns. “It was one of the failings from that campaign – players who clearly weren’t sold on the style of play either didn’t voice their concern or were afraid of ramifications,” he said.

“Disturbing” standards at training underlined the malaise, he added. “I’ve never ever seen as much dropped ball from a national team… if you’re going to drop it training, you’re going to drop it in a game. It was always going to end in tears.”

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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