Michael Cheika explains why he banned headphones during pre-game

Wallabies headcoach Michael Cheika has explained why he banned headphones during pre-game and says it comes highly recommended.

Cheika is preparing his charges for what he told RugbyPass was the ‘best ever’ Irish rugby team to tour Austraila.

Writing for the Players Voice website Cheika spoke about his experiences as a coach and how challenging himself and his own pre-conceived ideas about the game have helped shaped his career.

“When I came back from overseas to coach the Tahs, I was watching the players during the trials. They all had the headphones on before games. I asked them why. No one said anything at first, but I pushed them. ‘Are you listening to the answer to the game? Is it a mantra? What is it?’

“‘It’s pump-up music,’ someone said.

“‘Righto,’ I answered. ‘We’re going to trial brushing the headphones. I want you to talk to your teammates. I can guarantee you Cyndi Lauper won’t win you the game.’

“I said the last bit as an attempted gee-up, but none of them knew who Cyndi Lauper was! In any case, it’s a policy that worked and something I’ve stuck with ever since.”

Cheika mused that technology has to be used to the advantage of the team, not against it.

“What I do know is this: the technology has to work for you, not the other way around.

“Arnie was right about Skynet.”

Cheika is coming off the back of the latest Wallabies drama, namely negotiating the release of Pete Samu from the NZR.

Former Wallaby and ex-Reds and Crusaders winger Digby Ioane this week slammed Cheika for ‘missing’ on Samu when he was playing in Australia. The blindside flanker moved to New Zealand and played his way into the Tasman side before making the Crusaders.

“So happy to see #Samu making the Wallabies. It’s a real shame tho Michael Cheika didn’t see Peter Samu potential when he was playing in Australia. #Grassroots,” Ioane tweeted.

So happy to see #Samu making the Wallabies, It's a real shame tho Michael Cheika didn't see Peter Samu potential when he was playing in Australia Grass roots🤷‍♀️

— Digby Ioane (@digbyioane) June 5, 2018

Samu expected to remain in New Zealand for life when he made the call to leave Sydney to move to Nelson.

“Things have turned out different and I’m here now and I’m excited,” he told rugby.com.au.

“I’m really excited for the new challenge. It’s going to be quite tough to leave the Crusaders with what they’ve done for me and the way they’ve been going.

“When I made the decision to go over there I never thought I’d be back.”

“I’m still coming to terms with it actually … it’s always the dream to represent your country,” he said.

As a 19-year-old he played reserve grade for Sunnybank in the Brisbane club competition in 2011. Future Queensland Reds backrowers Liam Gill and Jake Shatz held the first grade loose forward positions. He then moved to Sydney to play for Randwick, the club that Michael Cheika coached before being offered an opportunity to coach professionally at Leinster.

Samu was apart of the 2013 wider training squad for the Waratahs where Cheika had a first-hand look at the Melbourne product but no contract came forward.

He has now come full circle, after being released by NZR to play for the Wallabies in the upcoming test series against Ireland.