Wallabies Coach Cheika FEELS FANS' Ire AFTER TEST LOSS
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Sports42 FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2017 AOC chief Coates defiant after damning review SYDNEY: An independent review of the hostility towards each other”. Long-time staff and stakeholders hold the AOC in high uphold.” The review comes in the wake of a Australian Olympic Committee’s workplace AOC chief John Coates defiantly said he regard and express immense pride in what stormy period for the AOC, with Coates fight- practices released yesterday has revealed a would not quit following the damning inde- the organisation has achieved over the years, ing off a well-backed bid by challenger dysfunctional culture out of step with the pendent review. they describe the organisation as being out of Danni Roche to remain as the organisation’s Games’ ideals. “Why should I resign?” Coates told step-with both their ideals and minimum figure-head. The review, following interviews and sur- reporters at a media conference yesterday. expectations for a modern organisation,” the Coates, who has been at the helm for 27 years, veys with current and former AOC executive “There has been no confirmation of bullying. investigation said of its findings. won a secret ballot 58-35 in May to continue in members and staff as well as with national There has been some criticism of senior lead- “Instead of seeing the organisation as cel- his role, but admitted the AOC brand was “dam- sports federations, did not find a bullying cul- ers-I’m the president, I’m not the senior leader ebrating the best of the Olympic ideals, staff aged” by the acrimonious campaign. Dubbed the ture within the organisation. that is being criticised.” and stakeholders speak of a more immediate most powerful individual in Australian sport, But it detailed an environment of “senior The review also uncovered a disillusion- horizon of challenges and difficulties that Coates has been AOC chief since 1990 and a vice- leaders undermining each other, working ment with the way in which staff and national stem from a culture that is not aligned with president of the International Olympic around each other, and openly displaying federations were treated by the AOC. “While the ideals that the organisation aspires to Committee since 2013.—AFP Boks pick Hougaard to replace Cronje BUENOS AIRES: South Africa have made one injury-enforced change from the team that defeated Argentina last week- end for the Rugby Championship return match in Salta tomorrow. An ankle injury rules out scrum-half Ross Cronje and experienced Francois Hougaard comes off the bench to replace him in the starting line-up. Rudy Paige has been promoted to the replacements’ bench as scrum-half cover with the Springboks seeking a fifth consecutive victory this season. “Francois has played a lot of Test rugby, his work ethic is second to none and he has been working hard until now since joining the squad,” Coetzee told reporters in Buenos Aires. “Rudy made a good impact in the third Test against France and I expect the same from him this weekend.” Before a 37-12 Championship victory over Los Pumas in Port Elizabeth last Saturday, resurgent South Africa com- pleted a 3-0 Test series whitewash over France during June. Coach Allister Coetzee had a horror SYDNEY: This photo taken on August 19, 2017 shows Australia’s Wallabies winger George Speight (front L) being tackled by New Zealand’s debut season last year, losing a calendar- All Blacks players Owen Franks (C) and Aaron Smith (R) during their Rugby Championship test match in Sydney. The Wallabies yesterday year record eight Tests out of 12, includ- made three changes. — AFP ing a first to European rugby light- weights Italy. The 54-year-old former RUGBY provincial scrum-half and coach of Super Rugby outfit Western Stormers said he was thrilled by the healthy competition for places. Wallabies coach Cheika feels “The players outside of the match 23 are all knocking on the door and that is a great position to be in.” South Africa and fans’ ire after test loss Argentina have met twice in northwest- ern city Salta with the Springboks win- ning 33-31 three years ago and WELLINGTON: Wallabies fans have a right to quality of Australia’s playing stocks. ulent criticism of the Wallabies coach on Argentina turning the tables with a 26- feel disappointed but not angry about the Cheika has assured fans they will see a bet- Facebook, to ring that fan and to remon- 24 victory last season. team’s heavy defeat in last weekend’s first ter Wallabies performance this weekend after a strate with him directly. That seems only to The other Rugby Championship Bledisloe Cup test against New Zealand, coach week in which he and his fellow coaches have have encouraged other fans to take their teams are world champions New Michael Cheika said yesterday. addressed defensive weaknesses evident in complaints to the coach. Zealand and Australia, who meet Cheika said he received hate mail since the Sydney. The All Blacks over-ran the Wallabies, “I have certainly had some of my own hate Saturday in Dunedin. Wallabies’ 54-34 loss to the All Blacks in scoring six tries to lead 40-6 by halftime. mail to deal with,” Cheika said. “I am not sure Sydney as disgruntled fans expressed disgust They quickly added two more tries in the how they get my email address but they hap- Team (15-1) at one of Australia’s worst-ever losses to New second half and led 54-6 after 58 minutes. It pen to, or a phone number. But you have to roll Andries Coetzee: Raymond Rhule, Zealand. Anger was likely made more intense was only a lapse in concentration and loss of with that stuff mate, you have to deal with it. Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall by the fact that Australian rugby is at one of its structure by the All Blacks that allowed the “There’s only one way that can change. Nothing Skosan; Elton Jantjies, Francois lowest ebbs, beset by the poor form of its Wallabies to rally and score four tries in the last that happens from Monday to Friday. The only Super Rugby teams and by administrative grid- 30 minutes. While they conceded more points way these things change is on the field.” Cheika Hougaard; Uzair Cassiem, Jaco Kriel, Siya lock in the face of a range of off-field chal- to the All Blacks than ever before, Cheika’s said fans had a right to be disappointed but that Kolisi; Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth lenges. Rugby is rapidly bleeding support in Wallabies were able to avoid a record losing should not spill over into anger. “No one should (capt); Coenie Oosthuizen, Malcolm Australia, losing the battle for audience share margin and to save themselves from even be angry,” Cheika said. “People can be disap- Marx, Tendai Mtawarira with the other football codes, Australian Rules, greater recriminations. pointed. Anger is a different emotion and I have Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Rugby League and soccer. The Wallabies face But Cheika revealed on Thursday that heard a lot of anger and stuff around from peo- Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Pieter- the All Blacks again in Dunedin tomorrow. some fans were still aggravated enough to ple who might be bitter about it or whatever. “I Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Rudy With a win, the All Blacks can secure the find his email or phone number and contact am not sure why you would be angry because Paige, Curwin Bosch, Damian de Allende Bledisloe Cup for the 14th-straight year and him personally. Cheika made the mistake in it’s your national team. You’d be disappointed, Coach: Allister Coetzee (RSA). — AFP raise further questions about the depth and June, when one fan posted a particularly vir- 100 percent.—AP.