Australian rugby coach Michael Cheika has ended 2016 with a Wallabies' winning percentage almost as bad as the one that got Eddie Jones sacked 11 years ago, but he insists the pain can be salved by future gain.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Jones' England team completed a 14th straight win when they overran the Wallabies in the second half to record a 37-21 victory at Twickenham on Sunday (NZ Time).
It left Cheika with a grim return of six wins, nine losses - a 40 percent win rate.
It's the Wallabies' worst since Jones' 2005 team chalked up an ignominious 38.5 percent win rate which cost him his job.
Eddie Jones, who was sacked as Australia coach in 2005. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
But Cheika has no axe hanging over him and he pointed to the depth he has built in the squad through the introduction of a slew of debutants as a big positive early on the road toward the 2019 World Cup.
"This year has been about teaching ourselves a few things," Cheika said.
"We've played the top two teams (New Zealand and England) seven times this year with a whole bunch of new debutants and new players and that's going to be good even if the outcomes haven't been good.
"I know we'll be criticised for losing but you have to wear that sometimes."
This season has seen the blooding of some likely newcomers including Adam Coleman, Rory Arnold, Sefa Naivalu, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi, Lopeti Timani, Tom Robertson, Nick Frisby, Kyle Godwin, Allan Aalaatoa and Tolu Latu.
- AAP
