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<blockquote data-quote="snoopy snoopy dog dog" data-source="post: 235547"><p><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Dec 29 2008, 03:50 PM) <a href="http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=368747" target="_blank"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div></p><p>I agree that Cheika is throwing his rattle out of his pram by refusing the speak to Setanta. Francis is a clown. He's a poor man's Stephen Jones which is saying something. To act so childish over the comments of a fool like Francis beggars belief.</p><p></p><p>What I take some issue with is your assertion that Cheika <em>really should f*** off and let someone else take over</em> if he behaves like this. In my opinion Cheika has done an unbelieveably good job as Leinster coach. Keep in mind the wasteland Declan Kidney left upon his departure. The current Irish coach's regime led to the departure of Shane Byrne, Aidan McCullen, Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, David Holwell and Victor Costello along with a few squad players. That's the heart ripped out of the pack and the leader of the backline gone in one fell swoop. That's the job he left an unproven coach in Cheika to inherit.</p><p></p><p>Cheika took over a rudderless Leinster and turned them into a Heineken Cup semi finalist despite being stuck with a pair of clapped out props (Green and Corrigan), two useless 2nd rows foisted upon him (Byrnes and Williams), a backpacker at blindside (Jowitt) and revolving door worth of scrumhalves, none of whom could hold down the position (O'Riordan, O'Meara, Easterby). He's overseen the transformation of the team, bringing the likes of Kearney, Fitzgerald, Heaslip, Sexton and Healy into the international squad. This year he's doing a fine job developing O'Brien and Toner as future internationals. He's helped turn Bernard Jackman from a plodder into a top quality provincial hooker. His development of talent has been outstanding. He's brought a league ***le to Leinster. He's brought world class players like Elsom and vdLinde to the team. He saw the team had a porous defence, corrected it and turned it into one of the best in Europe - only 9 tries have been conceded in 12 games this year including one intercept and one penalty try, neither of which are the fault of inept defending. Major credit must goes to Kurt McQuilkin for the job he has done since Cheika gave him that task. He's also seen average attendances triple during his short reign.</p><p></p><p>Yes there have been problems. Concession of needless penalties must be addressed. Scrumhalf remains a joke. It's not as though Cheika hasn't recognised this though - he attempted to bring Eoin Reddan in during the summer. In hindsight letting Cillian Willis go has been a poor decision but based upon his play last year, Willis didn't deserve a new contract. Alan Gaffney has yet to make any sort of impact on the backline although people are too quick to pass judgement. What coach could cope with injuries to players of the calibre of D'arcy, O'Driscoll, Contepomi and Nacewa for chunks of the season, coupled with a loss of form of Horgan and Sexton? How was Gaffney supposed to develop a coherent backline when there were a couple of enforced personnel and positional changes each and every week?</p><p></p><p>Injuries now seem to be clearing up. Despite a lacklustre start to the season (bar a couple of performances), Leinster have destiny in their own hands in the Heineken Cup where they top their group and are only 6 points behind the Magners League leaders. They face the bottom two sides at home in the next 2 games which gives them a massive opportunity to close that gap. All is not well but it's far from the doom and gloom picture that some people paint. </p><p></p><p>Cheika deserves more than to put up with ill informed comments like those of Neil Francis, George Hook and Jim Glennon. Constructive criticism is fine (the sort that Gerry Thornley and Conor O'Shea provide and which Tony Ward sometimes chimes in with) but a lot of the stuff relating to Leinster is clichéed bile. While it's fair to say that Leinster aren't as good now as they were during Matt Williams' final year in charge, he has done a fabulous job considering the hand he was dealt. Things will continue to improve as long as the Australian has the job. I hope he's kept around for the foreseeable future.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="snoopy snoopy dog dog, post: 235547"] <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Dec 29 2008, 03:50 PM) [url='index.php?act=findpost&pid=368747']<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div> I agree that Cheika is throwing his rattle out of his pram by refusing the speak to Setanta. Francis is a clown. He's a poor man's Stephen Jones which is saying something. To act so childish over the comments of a fool like Francis beggars belief. What I take some issue with is your assertion that Cheika [i]really should f*** off and let someone else take over[/i] if he behaves like this. In my opinion Cheika has done an unbelieveably good job as Leinster coach. Keep in mind the wasteland Declan Kidney left upon his departure. The current Irish coach's regime led to the departure of Shane Byrne, Aidan McCullen, Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, David Holwell and Victor Costello along with a few squad players. That's the heart ripped out of the pack and the leader of the backline gone in one fell swoop. That's the job he left an unproven coach in Cheika to inherit. Cheika took over a rudderless Leinster and turned them into a Heineken Cup semi finalist despite being stuck with a pair of clapped out props (Green and Corrigan), two useless 2nd rows foisted upon him (Byrnes and Williams), a backpacker at blindside (Jowitt) and revolving door worth of scrumhalves, none of whom could hold down the position (O'Riordan, O'Meara, Easterby). He's overseen the transformation of the team, bringing the likes of Kearney, Fitzgerald, Heaslip, Sexton and Healy into the international squad. This year he's doing a fine job developing O'Brien and Toner as future internationals. He's helped turn Bernard Jackman from a plodder into a top quality provincial hooker. His development of talent has been outstanding. He's brought a league ***le to Leinster. He's brought world class players like Elsom and vdLinde to the team. He saw the team had a porous defence, corrected it and turned it into one of the best in Europe - only 9 tries have been conceded in 12 games this year including one intercept and one penalty try, neither of which are the fault of inept defending. Major credit must goes to Kurt McQuilkin for the job he has done since Cheika gave him that task. He's also seen average attendances triple during his short reign. Yes there have been problems. Concession of needless penalties must be addressed. Scrumhalf remains a joke. It's not as though Cheika hasn't recognised this though - he attempted to bring Eoin Reddan in during the summer. In hindsight letting Cillian Willis go has been a poor decision but based upon his play last year, Willis didn't deserve a new contract. Alan Gaffney has yet to make any sort of impact on the backline although people are too quick to pass judgement. What coach could cope with injuries to players of the calibre of D'arcy, O'Driscoll, Contepomi and Nacewa for chunks of the season, coupled with a loss of form of Horgan and Sexton? How was Gaffney supposed to develop a coherent backline when there were a couple of enforced personnel and positional changes each and every week? Injuries now seem to be clearing up. Despite a lacklustre start to the season (bar a couple of performances), Leinster have destiny in their own hands in the Heineken Cup where they top their group and are only 6 points behind the Magners League leaders. They face the bottom two sides at home in the next 2 games which gives them a massive opportunity to close that gap. All is not well but it's far from the doom and gloom picture that some people paint. Cheika deserves more than to put up with ill informed comments like those of Neil Francis, George Hook and Jim Glennon. Constructive criticism is fine (the sort that Gerry Thornley and Conor O'Shea provide and which Tony Ward sometimes chimes in with) but a lot of the stuff relating to Leinster is clichéed bile. While it's fair to say that Leinster aren't as good now as they were during Matt Williams' final year in charge, he has done a fabulous job considering the hand he was dealt. Things will continue to improve as long as the Australian has the job. I hope he's kept around for the foreseeable future. [/QUOTE]
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