Cheika calls for running rugby

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika hopes to see some expansive rugby from the Australian Super Rugby teams in the lead-up to the June tests.

With all the talk in Australian rugby circles around the poor Super Rugby results and which team will survive the dreaded cut from the competition, Cheika is choosing to stay positive and says he believes in his players.

The 50-year-old has already said that the Wallabies will play an attractive brand of running rugby and has urged the Super Rugby teams to do the same.

“I think our Super Rugby teams can play like that over the next few weeks as well,” Cheika told the Canberra Times.

“Sometimes seasons change on the turn of a dime.

“I’ve been there. I know we’ve had our struggles, but I’ll always believe in our players.

“It would be ignorant of me to see there’s not an air of negativity around what’s happening at the moment … a lot of negative press. And that gets into the heads of the players. The results haven’t been good for us.

“But we have the opportunity to play the type of football that will get us and our crowds enjoying the game again. It’s a big opportunity for us.”

Australia take on Fiji in Melbourne on June 10, Scotland in Sydney on June 17 and the Italians in Brisbane on June 24.