It will be an interesting week for Michael Cheika. Although he will be saying completely the opposite, the Wallabies coach knows that he has every chance of exacting sweet revenge against his old Randwick club mate, England boss Eddie Jones, this Saturday at Twickenham.
Cheika and Jones used to be mates. “Used to be” being the operative phrase. But then Jones took his England team down to Australia in June 2016 and brought Cheika, still floating on a high from the 2015 Rugby World Cup, down to earth with a shuddering thud.
England triumphed 3-0, their first ever Test series victory in Australia, but it wasn’t the results that really irked Cheika. It was the way it was done. Jones, like any old hooker, loves a good sledge and he tore into Cheika from the moment he touched down.
Cheika, usually one to give as good as he gets, stayed oddly mute – almost as if out of respect for the former Australian coach. But Jones paid no such heed, allowing Fast Eddie free-reign to clean Cheika up off and on the field. And Eddie clearly delighted in his revenge.
He had been, many would say unfairly, sacked as Australian coach in 2005, after taking the Wallabies to the RWC Final just two years previously. He then returned to Australian Rugby in 2007 only to be sacked again, spectacularly, after just one season at the Queensland Reds.
For Jones, wiping the smile off the faces of those who laughed at him a decade ago, was cold comfort richly enjoyed. Cheika just didn’t expect he would be the one carrying the brunt of Jones’ ire, staggering around last June in a bewildered stupor as Eddie tore shreds off him daily to the delight of the travelling British media core.
You could almost sense Cheika’s silent protest: “Come on Eddie, we’re mates!” Well, not any more. It’s gloves off as the two men prepare to face off this weekend, and this time Cheika has come out swinging.
Eddie Jones
Asked if he was going to enjoy sparring with Jones again this week, Cheika shot from the hip: “Mate it’s irrelevant, It’s Australia versus England. It’s not about fun with Eddie.” Ouch.
And for once it’s Jones who has been caught on the back foot after he was captured by TV cameras slamming a notebook and shouting “How ****ing stupid are we?” at a silly penalty as his team stumbled unconvincingly to perhaps the worst of his 20 wins from 21 Tests in charge – 21-8 over Argentina.
Cheika’s team in comparison were excellent in there 29-21 victory over Wales, the pick of the opening weekend of Autumn Internationals.
In a high quality Test match, the Wallabies (without Israel Folau and Jack Dempsey) defeated an impressive new look Wales outift in a highly enthralling match.
In comparison the EnglandPumas game was a snore-fest and the All Blacks seemed off-colour against a very poor France. Ireland were impressive as they demolished South Africa 38-3 and its a great pity we won’t see them against the All Blacks or Wallabies this November.
Jones will have a wary eye on the Irish come next year, but for now its the resurgent Wallabies and the growing-in-confidence Cheika who will be most concerning him. And this time the boot could well and truly be on the other foot.
