Cheika downplays tension with Super Rugby clubs after Wallabies injuries
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has played down reports of tension between himself and Super Rugby clubs, saying Australian rugby’s bid to collaborate better is going well.
Clubs were understood to be privately fuming about the injuries, while Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said she was “concerned” and that the governing body would review what happened.
One club felt a damaging aspect was the lack of communication between the Wallabies program and the clubs when players were going down injured.
Super Rugby coaches Daryl Gibson (NSW Waratahs), Brad Thorn (Queensland Reds), Dave Wessels (Melbourne Rebels) and Dan McKellar (ACT Brumbies) have all been in regular contact with Cheika and the Wallabies boss is adamant the age of collaboration is working favourably.
“There has been a really good working relationship between myself and the Super Rugby coaches this year,” said Cheika on a pre-recorded interview posted on the Wallabies social media channels. “It’s been a bit of give and take. It’s not always everyone on the same hymn sheet immediately but we’re all taking into consideration everyone’s objectives for the year.
“I think it’s working in that way and it’s something we want to do for the game in the future; getting more and more collaboration between ourselves and Super Rugby so the player is getting the best possible preparation.”
Much has been made of a loose agreement between Cheika and Super Rugby coaches whereby senior Wallabies players will be rested for certain games during the season.
Monitoring workloads becomes even more important in a World Cup year but there is a fine a balance between a club agreeing to resting a player and ensuring they have their best side on the paddock.
Cheika referred to the breaks as “reloading” weeks for the higher tier of players who usually play big minutes across the Super Rugby and international seasons.
Some players will have two games off – to go with two byes weeks – while others will have just the one.
There is also the factor of players being dissatisfied too, like in the case when Kurtley Beale was unhappy about being rested for the Waratahs’ first match of the season against the Hurricanes.
Specific dates of when players will rested have not been set in stone but there are rough periods that have been drafted up. Injuries and other factors will affect how these plans are eventually laid out.
“The teams have come back to us positioning themselves where they think they might be in a perfect world ... but the world isn’t perfect,” Cheika said.
“Players get injured… it’s got to be fluid. We want players to just focus on the next game ... and we’ll manage that in the background for them.
“So far I think that’s working well around the conversations. I’ve had coaches ring up and look to change plans. The season changes for them every week depending on wins and losses."