Mitchell not happy at Waratahs axing

[The InnFORCEr]

By Darren Walton,
AAP
Updated March 13, 2013, 1:20 pm


Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell is "not happy" at being axed but that's just how no-nonsense NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika wants it after ringing the changes for the Super Rugby clash with the Cheetahs on Friday night.

Cheika on Wednesday made six personnel and two positional changes from the side thrashed 35-6 by the Brumbies on Saturday, with Mitchell and Test prop Sekope Kepu the highest-profile casualties.

Mitchell and Kepu were both omitted from the match-day 22 altogether, with Cheika saying there was no room for under-performing stars as the Waratahs sought to avoid a third loss from four starts this campaign.

"I want guys to fulfil their potential," Cheika told AAP.

"Maybe I judge those guys at a higher standard. I don't think they've been playing poorly, but I think they've got more potential to achieve and I really want guys to play to the best of their ability at their own level.

"That's very important to me."

Cheika said he had a two-part "private conversation" with Mitchell before and after axing the 60-Test winger to explain exactly where the 28-year-old needed to improve.

"He's not happy, obviously. But I want them to be not happy. I want them to care about playing," Cheika said.

"He's a quality player and I back him to organise himself so he's right to come back and fulfil his potential and perform."

The first-year Super Rugby coach said Kepu was in the same boat.

"He's got a lot on his mind as well. His wife's about to have a baby, but he's a weapon and I want him to be a weapon for the team," Cheika said.

"I know he's playing for Australia and all that, but he can be so much better. We need to be getting the guys who are playing for Australia to be of the quality of being picked in the World XV.

"That's when we know we're in good shape. I believe Keps can be that type of player."

With Mitchell gone and new utility Ben Volavola relegated to the bench, Lachie Turner and Peter Betham have been promoted to form a new starting wing combination and marquee signing Israel Folau reverts to fullback.

Wallabies utility Berrick Barnes makes his first appearance of the season, returning from a knee injury at inside centre at the expense of Tom Carter and giving the Waratahs another playmaking option.

"I'm keen to get back out there," Barnes said.

"I'd be lying if I said I was 100 per cent, but I'm improving each week and I feel this week I can at least make some sort of contribution and I'm confident."

In the forwards, Paddy Ryan replaces Kepu as tighthead, while Pat McCutcheon returns to the starting team at No.8, allowing skipper Dave Dennis to revert to his preferred position on the blindside flank.

Reserve hooker John Ulugia takes over from injured Wallaby Tatafu Polota-Nau.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...aratahs-axing/

[shasta]

Oh dear. Now if I could just wipe this smirk off my face......
Posted via Mobile Device

[Cowboy]

It's going to be interesting to see if Cheika's stand up to the precocious children approach works.
Could take some time.

[jargan83]

Did he not hand his homework in on time....

[Alison]

Time for Robbie Deans to adopt the same hard-nosed approach.

[jono]

Still too many tahs...
Posted via Mobile Device

[The InnFORCEr]

one of your best Jono

[GIGS20]

Sounds like typical man-management from Michael Cheika......I agree that there's too much pandering to overinflated egos in Aussie rugby at the moment, but this sounds like he's deliberately set out to piss people off.

Initially approaching this article I thought it sounded like Mitchell was having a whinge at being dropped and I was going to post that he needed to dry his eyes and harden up.....now I'm not so sure!

[Sheikh]

I don't know if Cheika has just picked on two in the hope the others buck their ideas up, but I'd say both Mitchell and Kepu certainly haven't played up to the hype that surrounds both of them.

Mitchell hasn't been playing like the world-class winger he thinks himself to be (I disagree) and Kepu may have dropped some of his weight but still isn't the wrecking ball of a prop which he's made out to be.

Both suffer from being Tahs and therefore talked up by a sycophantic media. For the Wallabies sake I hope Cheika's tactic works and the players knuckle down to earn their Wallaby jerseys (but not when they play us!), but can't help thinking the Sydney blazers might be sharpening their knives already.

[GIGS20]

Israel Folau still has a spot
Dave Dennis still has a spot
Cliff Palu would still have a spot if he were fit
Tom Carter still has a spot

None of these blokes have lived up to the hype (in some cases ever) and some of them barely play at a super rugby standard at all.

[Sheikh]

But has Cheika picked on a couple of players he has decent cover for, in the hope taht the shock causes the team to improve in the long run?

Is the drop-off in ability to Dennis' or Carter's back-ups greater?

[benny]

wheres the FIREPOWER gone ?

[PeterM]

I get mad as a cut snake when I don't get picked to play in the 3rd or 4th grade so it stands to reason if playing rugby is your job you would be upset at being dropped I wouldn't want a player at the force who would be happy being dropped

[Stone Cold]

Good on Cheika.

Incidentally, Tom Carter is rubbish. I don't know how he is still playing Super Rugby.

[GIGS20]

I get mad as a cut snake when I don't get picked to play in the 3rd or 4th grade so it stands to reason if playing rugby is your job you would be upset at being dropped I wouldn't want a player at the force who would be happy being dropped

True, but read the article....it didn't quote Drew or Sekope at all, just Michael Cheika who said he hopes they're mad. Sounds like he's just wandering around poking anthills with a stick, hoping that it might work!