1
'He has to go' former Wallaby great calls time on Cheika
Former Wallaby great Matt Burke is not afraid of re-affirming his position on Michael Cheika publicly. Speaking on the Big Sports Breakfast Radio Show, Burke called for Cheika’s sacking once again.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Michael Cheika, after that season, has to go,” he said.
“It has been so poor from the Wallabies’ perspective. There has to be a change.
“I don’t think just getting rid of the assistant coaches will be enough. I think they have to change it from the top down.
Burke believed it was a case of doing something is better than doing nothing, with long-term damage to the Wallabies brand at risk if they become used to losing.
“The rugby brand itself is struggling. And the more they take the field and they are losing and the way they are losing, the brand is being damaged incredibly.
“If you were talking in a business sense and a CEO was performing like that he would be outed immediately.
Rugby Australia Chairman Cameron Clyne delivered an absurd 45-second press conference on Monday following the December Board meeting which failed to address Cheika’s future.
He refused to take questions and claiming a thorough review will be ‘done by Christmas’.
ADVERTISEMENT
Cheika received the backing of Clyne and CEO Raelene Castle prior to the November European tour where Castle claimed three wins from the three tests would be considered a pass mark.
“They are determined to go there and win all three games. That’s the start point, the pass mark from their perspective, that’s the expectation that Michael’s setting for them,” she said.
“There’s no reason they can’t do that. They would be very confident that they can come home with three wins.”
They managed just one victory against Italy, winning in a scrappy affair 26-7. They lost to Wales and England to cement one of the worst seasons on record for the Wallabies with just four test wins from 13 matches.
ADVERTISEMENT
Burke took aim at a ‘dithering’ and ‘floundering’ administration that seems incapable of delivering certainty either way.
“They are dithering,” he said.
“They are floundering on the field and they are floundering off the field.
“We are floundering at the moment, treading water until we get an outcome and that outcome is very uncertain.
In other news:
