Cheika’s race against time

Nine months. Give or take a few days. That was more or less the time Kitch Christie had to fashion a team of world champions when he took over from Ian McIntosh as Springboks coach in October of 1994.

Michael Cheika has just two months more to repeat that trick with Australia.

Christie’s achievement shows it can be done. So do others besides. Brian Lochore was over the All Blacks for only two years when his side claimed the Webb Ellis in 1987. Rod McQueen had something similar when Australia managed their second in 1999.