Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Michael Cheika highlights the 'problem' with Australia rugby

Australia coach Michael Cheika. Photo / Getty Images

Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has moved to quell suggestions that young Western Force flyhalf Reesjan Pasitoa should be fast-tracked into the Wallabies and lamented how quick Australian rugby can be to promote the ‘next big thing’.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pasitoa performed strongly in the No 10 jersey for the Force in their record win over the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday night and early in the match former Wallabies midfielder and current Stan Sport panellist Tim Horan suggested on Twitter that the young playmaker should be elevated into the Wallabies as soon as possible to develop him into a top-tier first five-eighth.

“Reesjan Pasitoa has to be in the Wallabies squad in 2022,” Horan posted. “Early days I know, but he is a future star. At 20 years old….the time is right.”

Video Spacer

Los Pumas star Pablo Matera discusses his move to the Crusaders.

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Los Pumas star Pablo Matera discusses his move to the Crusaders.

      Fellow panellist Cheika, however, disagreed with Horan and made his views clear in the game’s post-match broadcast.

      “This is the continual problem, right? Forget about young Pasitoa, let’s have a think about [current Wallabies] Noah Lolesio or Quade Cooper or James O’Connor … and give them the confidence to play,” Cheika said.

      “And when this lad – who is good, he’s got time on the ball, he’s getting the ball on the run so he’s drawing defenders even before he has the ball, you can see he’s got that ability – but let him stamp his authority to become a top player in Super Rugby with the Western Force and then inject him into the Wallabies as a player who will make a difference from the off instead of going in there, maybe struggle for a bit and come out and earn your stripes.

      “That’s what we’ve gotta do. We’ve got to let players get their business done in Super Rugby and then they can hit the ground running in the gold colours and perform from day one because in that arena, it’s excellence every minute, there’s no respite. You’ve got to be on every second you’re in the gold jersey.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Lolesio was considered by many as a Wallaby-in-waiting as soon he played his first game of Super Rugby for the Brumbies in 2020 after he had been a member of the Australian Under 20s side that finished in second place at the 2019 World Championships.

      Although Dave Rennie did select Lolesio in his squad for that year’s test calendar, Lolesio played just a small part in the campaign. It was a similar story this season with Lolesio starting the opening five games of Wallabies’ campaign before Quade Cooper took over as the first-choice No 10. Lolesio was originally left out of the Wallabies squad that travelled north to Europe but was called up when Cooper couldn’t travel.

      At just 22 years of age and in just his third season of Super Rugby, Lolesio still has plenty of time to develop into a test-level flyhalf.

      Other young playmakers in Australia such as Will Harrison and Ben Donaldson are also similarly hyped up but when they don’t immediately fire they’re ostensibly discarded as a ‘disappointment’ – often simply by the wider public but sometimes also by their coaches.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      20-year-old Pasitoa made the switch to Western Force this season after spending two years behind Lolesio at the Brumbies.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      Saitama Wildknights vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

      The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

      Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

      Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

      Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      1 Comment
      S
      Shannon 1170 days ago

      The problem with aussie rugby is that Michael checks him self coached them and he was terrible at it.

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      S
      Solenn Bonnet 1 day ago
      Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

      My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

      CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

      EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      WhatsApp.. +15617263697

      website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      Telegram.. +15617263697

      0 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING Former All Blacks weigh in on the No.9 position for AB's Former All Blacks pick the No.9 position for AB's
      Search