Cheika doesn’t fear Dublin Six repeat

The Wallabies have returned to the scene of the crime that may have kick-started the demise of former coach Ewen McKenzie.

But his successor Michael Cheika is adamant a strong culture of respect and trust within the current playing group will ensure there’s no repeat of the infamous “Dublin six” booze binge this week.

Australia are back in the Irish capital a year on from the drinking drama in Dublin that led to six players being suspended and a host of others sanctioned.

Cheika joked the fact the Wallabies were this year basing themselves 15km out of the city centre ensured their was no chance of his players indulging in a wild night on the town.

But he insists it’s not something he has to worry about based on how his players have acquitted themselves in three weeks on tour so far.

“They’ve got us in a hotel fourteen thousand miles away from the city, so I don’t think it’s a drama because you’ll be trying to get a horse and cart in,” Cheika said.

“But they’ll be fine.

“That’s one thing I can’t complain about, the lads have been very good around the way they’ve managed themselves off the field.

“The treatment room’s been really full of guys getting ready and doing prep work and I’ve got no worries at all with that type of thing.

Cheika’s squad features two surviving members of the infamous ‘Dublin six’; Adam Ashley-Cooper and Benn Robinson.

Nick Cummins, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Paddy Ryan and Liam Gill were also suspended for staying out late and drinking with nine other players sanctioned with written or verbal warnings.

Some believe McKenzie’s handling of the affair split the playing group, creating a disunity which contributed to his demise.

The former coach followed the incident by laying out a strict set of rules, warning his players they were not on a Contiki tour.

Cheika instead has put his faith in an informal code of conduct based on respect and common sense rather than specific guidelines.

“I don’t believe in too many of those sorts of rules,” Cheika said.

“If you have to force it on guys, it’s a worry.

“When I’ve told the guys that’s the way I want it to be they’ve really responded to that and matured.

“It’s like they’re saying, ‘he’s giving us the opportunity to behave like responsible men. Let’s make sure we take it’.”

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