Michael Cheika to face Rugby Australia after Wallabies' dismal performances this year
Michael Cheika is set to continue as coach for Australia until the 2019 World Cup
©PA
Rugby Australia Chief Executive Raelene Castle expressed disappointment on the performances of the Wallabies team this year that saw them win just three out of the nine games played.
Castle said she is expecting Australia head coach Michael Cheika to submit a report to the board before the team heads to Japan and the European tour to follow.
Cheika's side had a tough series against Ireland at home where they lost 2-1 in June and in the recently concluded Rugby Championship tournament they lost both the Bledisloe Cup contest against the All Blacks and also suffered defeats against South Africa and Argentina as they finished third in the table.
Even though, Wallabies staged a terrific comeback as they went on to win the final game against Argentina 34-45 after being 31-7 at half-time, Castle said the victory alone cannot override their dismal performance this year.
“The reality is that of the Test matches we have played this year we are three from nine,” she told Rugby Australia’s official website.
“So there are still some elements of performance that we can’t hide from that are still not up to the level that we would expect from a Wallabies team.
“We are expecting that Michael will come and present to us around those performances and what his plans would be going into that end of year tour, and then into the lead up to the World Cup.”
Castle also reckons that Cheika will still be the man to coach the team through the World Cup in Japan next year.
“At the end of the day Michael has a contract to coach through to the World Cup and that hasn’t changed,” she said.
“We would be expecting that he will come and present us with his plans for the Spring Tour and into the World Cup.
“Myself and the Rugby Australia board will take those comments on and move forward from there.”
Australia will now face New Zealand for the third and final Bledisloe Cup contest in Yokohama on 27th October following which they will face Wales, Italy and England in their November internationals.
