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Why Mrs Cheika is the Wallabies’ trump card

James O'Connor scores a try for French side Toulon. Photo: Getty

James O'Connor scores a try for French side Toulon. Photo: Getty

Stephanie Cheika – not Michael – looms as Australia’s trump card as the Wallabies’ latest coaching saviour takes an audacious shot at Rugby World Cup glory in 2015.

Thrust into the role less than 11 months out from the start of the global showpiece, Michael Cheika has been charged with returning the Webb Ellis Cup to Australian shores for the first time since the Eddie Jones-coached Wallabies relinquished it to England in 2003.

John Connolly and Robbie Deans have each tried and failed to bring the coveted silverware back, both unable to even guide the Wallabies to the Bledisloe Cup let alone World Cup, while Ewen McKenzie survived but 15 months of his scheduled four-year reign.

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Make no mistake, the Wallabies’ coaching job is not for the faint hearted.

Yet Cheika has taken it on not only with a limited eight-Test preparation – and still with all the usual expectation – but while also presiding over the NSW Waratahs’ first-ever Super Rugby title defence in 2015.

But wait, there’s more.

Cheika will not only attempt to pull off an unprecedented coaching double in 2015, he must do so while managing four toddlers at home.

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Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Photo: Getty

The 47-year-old admits he could never juggle the demands of family with state and national coaching responsibilities without his loyal wife.

Cheika acknowledges Stephanie as the most important “player” in the entire Wallabies operation, the only certain selection each and every week.

“For sure, she’s behind me 100 per cent,” Cheika told AAP ahead of the busiest year of his life.

“And she understands that’s what it’s going to take and I’m very lucky that I can get that type of support.

“I’ve really got to get super organised and then leave that and then get fully into that Wallabies mode for the World Cup.”

Cheika jokes about once publicly committing to “110 per cent” to the Waratahs and “150” to the Wallabies in 2015.

“That’s 260 all together,” he said.

But he’s deadly serious about making it all work.

“Yeah, I’m working a lot but it’s not so much the quantity but how you manage the divide.

“Just having some strict guidelines on how you divide your time. I’m doing nothing around the Wallabies – nothing – I won’t even take a phone call in the office about the Wallabies while I’m with the Waratahs.

“It’s only six months. It’s going to be tough, yeah, but I put my hand up for it so I’m ready for it.”

Workaholic

Alan Jones, Australia’s 1987 World Cup coach turned broadcaster and once an adviser to the prime minister, is famous for working 20 hours a day, barely sleeping at night.

Cheika doesn’t believe he needs to be anywhere near as radical.

“If I go home, I’ll go home and see the kids first – if I can get them before they go to bed,” he said.

“Then I might do some planning stuff – emails, phone calls maybe – but I try not to if I can avoid it. I’d rather get up early and do that stuff.

“I’m about 5.30/6. I usually have to be. There’s no choice in our house.

“Then do your best. There’s obviously the odd thing that will slip through the net, but I don’t think there’s anyone who is having a life where something’s not slipping through the net and you pick it up later on, you know.”

Spoilt for choice

If keeping Australian rugby’s so-called Three Amigos – oft-wayward stars James O’Connor, Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper – on the straight and narrow next year isn’t as onerous as managing his household quartet under five, finding a spot for all of them in a 31-man World Cup squad may well be Cheika’s next biggest challenge.

O’Connor’s return to Australia from France and code-hopping Karmichael Hunt also joining the Queensland Reds has added to Cheika’s backline riches.

The Wallabies already have Beale, Cooper, Matt Toomua, Christian Lealiifano and Bernard Foley as leading midfield options, plus Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne, Henry Speight, Joe Tomane and Tevita Kuridrani as front-running outside backs.

James O'Connor scores a try for French side Toulon. Photo: Getty

James O’Connor scores a try for French side Toulon. Photo: Getty

Typically, though, Cheika doesn’t believe trying to squeeze his available talent all in will be an issue.

“They’ll squeeze themselves in,” he said. “It’s all about form and who’s got the right profile for the right thing as the season goes on.

“It should ensure that the Super Rugby teams are going to get plenty of good performances.”

Now that he’s laid out the challenge, Cheika says he won’t be asking any of his rival Super Rugby coaches around the country to play anyone in particular positions that he may be considering them for in the Wallabies.

Playing on the wing, O’Connor was among Australia’s three best performers at the 2011 World Cup.

Then he made a successful transition to the midfield playmaker role on the 2011 spring tour before playing five-eighth for Deans against the British and Irish Lions.

“I think he’ll probably play in the outside backs – wing, fullback,” Cheika said.

“Initially anyway and then we’ll work it out from there. I need to have a look.

“At the moment, that’s what’s in my head but I need to see where he plays in Super Rugby, what (Reds coach) Richard (Graham) does with him because he’s got some talent in the back three as well.”

All for one

Unlike Deans, Cheika is unconcerned about the prospect of not gaining support and alignment from the Australian franchises for the good of the national cause.

“I don’t expect it, but from what I’ve heard from the lads so far it’s positive,” Cheika said.

“All the guys have spoken really openly and candidly so I’m really happy with what’s happened so far.

“I don’t see a whole lot of areas that you can come a cropper. I think it’s all pretty straightforward.”

Billed as Australia’s coaching messiah, Cheika knows the honeymoon period won’t last – it can’t with a World Cup just around the corner.

His priority is getting the Wallabies playing a positive, vibrant style of rugby – like the Waratahs are.

“NSW supporters are enjoying rugby again, enjoying being a part of it, and that’s what it’s about,” he said.

“And then obviously we want to get results. I don’t have to say we want to get results. Of course we do.”

Cheika knows he has little time to work his magic, but believes 12 months – almost to the day – since his appointment and the October 31 World Cup final at Twickenham is enough for the Wallabies.

“It’s going to have to be,” he said.

“No one wants to go and win the World Cup more than we would.

“But I think if we play our best, if we’re playing our best footy, we’ll be up there. We’ll be competitive.

“Then you’ve got to make sure you get things right on the day.

“But if we’re playing our best football, we’ll have a shout. There’s no doubt about it.”

WALLABIES’ WORLD CUP COACHES AND AUSTRALIA’S PERFORMANCE

1987: Alan Jones (semi-finalists)

1991: Bob Dwyer (won)

1995: Bob Dwyer (quarter-finalists)

1999: Rod MacQueen (won)

2003: Eddie Jones (runners-up)

2007: John Connolly (quarter-finalists)

2011: Robbie Deans (semi-finalists)

2015: Michael Cheika (?)

– AAP

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