Rugby World Cup: England coach Eddie Jones already under Michael Cheika’s skin as he drafts in Aussie legend ahead of quarter-final
GRUMPY Michael Cheika is already wound-up by Eddie Jones’ behaviour.
The Wallabies boss cannot understand why England chief Jones has invited Aussie rugby league legend Ricky Stuart into his camp for their huge quarter-final.
Of course, it does not take much to annoy edgy Cheika and he believes England’s players will be just as rattled about there being a Wallaby behind enemy lines.
But Jones’ latest power-play is a repeat of the mind games he played in a previous Test series against his old mucker.
In 2016 he annoyed the Australians when he hired another league great, Joey Johns, to coach George Ford and Owen Farrell before the final Test of their whitewash Down Under.
Stuart joins up with England in Oita today, along with two other members of his backroom staff.
Cheika compared bringing in Stuart as similar to if he were to have his pal and Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate over to Japan.
The 52-year-old said: “Ricky and Eddie would be mates I imagine.
‘MUST BE WEIRD FOR ENGLAND’
“I’m friends with Gareth Southgate but I don’t know if I’d be wanting him in here the week that we’re playing England.
“It must be weird for the players having an Aussie, because Ricky is a legend.
“I know Ricky too, have known him from way back. He’s a good guy and very passionate about his footy and I love his passion for the game.”
There is no way Cheika could even get his own back, though, as Southgate concentrates on England’s Euro qualifiers.
Though explaining their out-of-the-blue relationship, he said: “We went to a conference in America before one of the Super Bowl weekends and we had a great old time.
“Gareth was a lovely chap, I really like his style. He’s a good man.”
Former No 8 Cheika’s record against his old Randwick team-mate Jones is grim and he could do with all the help he can get.
The two might have been part of a successful team in Sydney but since those days their relationship has soured.
Part of the reason why is since Jones took charge at Twickenham he has won all six of his games against the Wallabies.
When asked what that record meant ahead of Saturday’s huge knockout clash, Cheika — who beat England in 2015 — said: “I think it’s irrelevant. I’m not trying to avoid it but why go back and talk about all those games?
“Looking backwards is only going to give you a sore neck.
“We’ve got opportunities this week and we’ve got to take them. I’m just a believer. Call me a sucker but I believe in my lads.
“I know there’s other people who won’t give us much of a chance but when you believe in yourself you are much closer to being able to create history.
‘I DON’T WANT TO BE LUCKY’
“That’s what we’re going to need to do.
“We’ll be precise in what we do and be physically ready to get the job done. I don’t want to be lucky or have the Gods smile on me or anything like that.
“I just want us to play the best we can and the cards will fall where they do.”
England stars Ford and Ben Youngs have already spoken about the attacking threats of the Wallabies who have world-class playmakers like Kurtley Beale and Matt Toomua.
But when asked of his view of England, crabby Cheika responded like only he can.
He grunted: “Don’t really have one, mate. I’m interested in our blokes, our team and our analysis so that it can help us be better.”
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The game takes place just a week after Typhoon Hagibis ripped through Japan, leaving 58 dead, a dozen people missing and more than 200 injured.
Scores of houses have been washed away, while 8,000 homes have been damaged as some areas were blitzed with 40 per cent of their ANNUAL rainfall in just 24 hours.
England escaped their Tokyo HQ and headed to their Miyazaki pre-World Cup training base before the typhoon hit but front-row forward Mako Vunipola revealed he was praying for his friends and family in the capital.