Power and the possible: Cheika rides again with giant-killing Pumas

A few days before Argentina hosted the Wallabies in Mendoza, Michael Cheika spelt out the steps he felt were important in lifting the Pumas from an occasional banana-skin rival to World Cup contender.

Cheika was so busy preparing his new side he apologised for being short of breath. He was doing an interview with the Herald while squeezing in a 30-minute power walk on a treadmill. At 9pm.

Doing well at the 2023 World Cup, he explained, was possible but not without performing like World Cup contenders in the lead-up. You can’t just turn up and bank on hope.

“So we have to start to think with that type of ambition, and prepare accordingly. We have never won a series against Australia here, we have never won in New Zealand, we have to start to prepare to do those kinds of firsts,” Cheika said.

“We have to build those steps. Don’t take your goals down off the wall.”

Fast-forward four weeks and Cheika has built half a staircase.

Michael Cheika and Pumas captain Julian Montoya celebrate victory over the All Blacks.Credit:Photosport

A first-up loss to Australia was followed by a record win over the Wallabies in San Juan (which Cheika claimed as a Pumas’ series win on for-and-against) and then in Christchurch, the determined Pumas proved it was no fluke by claiming the mother of all firsts: victory in New Zealand. In 15 previous Test matches in New Zealand Argentina had been thrashed, with an average scoreline of 47-13.

But on Saturday, a blue-and-white defensive wall proved too strong for the battling All Blacks, whose ongoing struggles have sent the nation in depths of despair. After a series loss to Ireland in July, the Pumas delivered the All Blacks a third straight loss at home for the first time.

But as New Zealand grappled with results previously believed impossible, Cheika’s Argentina squad were basking in the power of the possible.

“They give you more confidence, and self-belief is a big issue for us to work on … getting that mentality right is really important,” Cheika said post-match. “We have been doing a lot of things in our preparation to try and build on that. So then when you get a win, or make a first like this, it consolidates that work.”

Agustin Creevy belts out the Argentinian national anthem before beating the Wallabies in San Juan.Credit:Getty

It was a first for Cheika too. His three wins with the Wallabies (in 14 Tests) over the All Blacks all came at home. But even with the chance to crow in a country where he was once drawn up as a cartoon clown, Cheika deflected and talked about the potential of his team.

Just how far the Pumas can go remains to be seen, but Cheika’s greatest strength as a coach is taking a team to great heights within a short space of time. Silverware with Leinster came in his third and fourth seasons, and the Waratahs won Super Rugby in his second year. After one year as Wallabies coach, Cheika took the team to the 2015 World Cup final.

Things went south for Cheika and the Wallabies the longer it went on, and his strong personality led to dysfunctional relationships with many at Rugby Australia.

Cheika arrives at Sydney airport after Australia’s quarter-final exit at the 2019 World Cup. Credit:Renee Nowytarger

Cheika’s specialty is extracting the best from players quickly, via quirky motivational tactics – and a handful of on-field strategies too – that convince players anything is possible if they believe as much as him. The fire-and-brimstone intensity has a limited shelf-life but while it’s working, it’s powerful. As Drew Mitchell tweeted about Cheika: “He cares.”

The mix of Cheika and the famous Pumas passion was always going to be potent if set alight early. And two wins over Scotland, a record victory over Australia and an historic win in New Zealand is a strong flame already.

It has been a redemptive few months for Cheika, too. After leaving the Wallabies with a battered reputation in 2019, the glow that saw Cheika win the world’s best coach award in 2015 has returned.

Can the flame keep growing? Cheika, who is only contracted until next year’s World Cup, also beat New Zealand in his first Bledisloe Cup match as Wallabies coach, and then lost seven straight. And ahead of a second clash in Wellington will come a week of local fury towards the humbled All Blacks.

Argentina will be unfancied to get a second win. But as Cheika will be reminding his team this week, no-one thought they’d get a first either.

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