‘Michael Cheika’s job safe until RWC’ – Raelene Castle

Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said on Thursday that under-fire Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika is safe from the axe.

Castle admitted that there’s “universal frustration” at the team’s run of poor results but said Cheika still has Rugby Australia’s support.

Cheika has come in for plenty of criticism in Australia after the Wallabies won just three out of 11 Tests this season.

That included a narrow 9-6 defeat to Wales in Cardiff last Saturday and there has been speculation that Cheika could lose his job if the Wallabies lose to Italy in Padua this weekend.

But Castle said Rugby Australia still backs the beleaguered coach as he is contracted through to the end of the World Cup.

“At the end of the day, Michael’s contract is through to the end of the World Cup,” she told AFP.

“We’ve said that publicly and we continue to support that stance,” she told Australian media from Europe.

“There is a review at the end of every year. There’s no doubt that that’s become even more important because of our performances.

“But the review will identify the areas we need to focus on as we move towards that very important World Cup next year.”

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Ahead of the Wallabies’ end-of-year tour, Cheika appeared before the Rugby Australia board to present his plans for the lead-up to the World Cup and they gave him continued support for his coaching team – Stephen Larkham, Nathan Grey and Simon Raiwalui.

Castle admitted that the Wallabies’ results were not good, but said their loss to Wales could have gone either way.

“Universal frustration,” she added.

“You know the effort’s there, you know the focus is there. It was a tremendous arm-wrestle that could have gone either way. It certainly wasn’t a game we were far away from. We could have ended up with the win.

“I know no one is more frustrated than the players themselves and they’ll be looking to turn that around this weekend.”