Australia head coach Michael Cheika is highly respected on this island. From garnering hero status amongst Leinster fans, and begrudging respect from the rest of the country.
Even since leaving Leinster, Cheika has continued to have success - changing the fortunes of the Waratahs from perennial underachievers to Super Rugby winners - before taking over Australia in a time when the national team was in turmoil. Cheika has proven himself to be a shrewd tactical operator.
Cheika is preparing his Australian team to face Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, after the Pumas beat the odds to dump Ireland out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage yet again. But is Cheika surprised to be facing Argentina as opposed to Ireland?
No, not at all. We would have expected it and have prepared accordingly.
Now's not the time to rub it in Michael.
I mean - he could be just being prudent to cover all potential opposition. Or he could be giving his next opponent due respect.
Or, like most people are saying now - could have predicted that one of the form teams in the tournament could beat a team shorn of four massive leaders just a week departed from an emotional win.
Either way, it doesn't feel all that good from an Irish point of view to be hearing that.
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Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
