Cheika takes the reins at wounded Wallabies
No-nonsense coach Michael Cheika took over at the Wallabies on Wednesday, vowing to rally the shell-shocked side after the stunning walkout of previous manager Ewen McKenzie.
No-nonsense coach Michael Cheika took over at the Wallabies on Wednesday, vowing to rally the shell-shocked side after the stunning walkout of previous manager Ewen McKenzie.
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) heaped praise on the 47-year-old at a media conference to announce his appointment just two days before the start of a tough five-match European tour.
"Central to our decision was selecting a world-class coach who can lead us to victory in next year's Rugby World Cup," said ARU chief executive Bill Pulver.
[Cheika] is extremely passionate and has a strong track record of motivating teams to win through plenty of hard work
He described Cheika as "the only coach in history to coach both a European Cup winning side and a Super Rugby winning side".
"He is also extremely passionate and has a strong track record of motivating teams to win through plenty of hard work."
That record includes lifting the European Cup with Irish side Leinster in 2009 and the NSW Waratahs' maiden Super 15 title earlier this year. He was director of rugby with Stade Francais in Paris before returning to his hometown Sydney to coach the Waratahs.
He will need all his skills to turn round a Wallabies side that has lost successively to South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand and seen star player Kurtley Beale stood down over a sordid text message affair.