Ledesma: Wallabies shouldn't sack Cheika
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP BUILD-UP: Win or lose Australia will be foolish to part ways with Michael Cheika says Argentina head coach Mario Ledesma.
The Wallabies have been in tremendous form.
Thus far they only managed to win one of their five Rugby Championship fixtures and currently in last-place on the log.
If the side lose when they take on Los Pumas on Saturday in Salta, they will conclude the competition with their first Rugby Championship wooden spoon.
According to rugbycomau, there has already been speculation about bringing a new face into the mix as a selector or advisor, though there has been no confirmation of such a move.
With all those external factors combine this Saturday’s match could be the end of Cheika’s Wallabies career.
However, Los Pumas head coach Ledesma, who was part of Cheika’s coaching staff when he took over the Wallabies less than a year out from the 2015 Rugby World Cup, admitted it would be unnecessary for Rugby Australia to sack Cheika so close to the World Cup 2019.
“They did it last World Cup so you never know but I don’t see that happening, I don’t see another better solution than having Cheik over there on the staff,” he said.
“When he went to Leinster they weren’t the team they were after he left, he did the same thing with the Waratahs and he did it before with the Wallabies.
“So, he can do it again. I hope he doesn’t do it in Salta,”
Ledesma said his Wallabies counterpart Cheika would be relishing the challenge in front of him this weekend.
“I have known Cheik for a bit now and I know how he thinks and obviously he doesn’t want to be in this situation but this is what he’s best at,” he said.
“He shines in the tough moments and obviously you need results to back it up but he’s not fazed by pressure.
“He doesn’t do this for money obviously, he does it because he loves it and the players love him and the staff is behind him.
“I hope we win, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think Cheik’s going anywhere and he shouldn’t,”
Source: @rugbycomau
