Michael Cheika factor helps Argentina rack up series of firsts

Ahead of a Test match between his Wallabies and the All Blacks in 2016, Michael Cheika was depicted as a clown in the pages of New Zealand's biggest newspaper.

It's a fair bet no cartoonist will get the same commission this week.

Argentina's deserved 25-18 victory over their hosts in Christchurch last Saturday stunned New Zealand but also served as a reminder of the quality of the opposing coach.

Cheika's reputation took a dive in the latter years of his time in charge of his native Australia, a reign that ended in acrimony after a humiliating quarter-final exit at the 2019 World Cup.

The success of the Pumas in his first season in charge, however, has once again illustrated that Cheika is one of the game's great motivators, a coach with an almost unrivalled ability to galvanise a team and get quick results.

Argentina have taken the wooden spoon in eight of their nine previous seasons in the Rugby Championship but are top of the table heading into this weekend's rematch against the All Blacks in Hamilton.

That may or may not last beyond Saturday but Cheika is in any case firmly focused on building for next year's World Cup.

"On the way to the World Cup, which is what we're planning for obviously, we've talked about trying to get some firsts to mark our own belief and self-confidence," said Cheika.

The firsts this season have already included a home series triumph over Scotland in July, a record 48-17 win over Australia three weeks ago and the maiden victory over the All Blacks on New Zealand soil last weekend.

Cheika's reputation as an agent of change was established when he took over underperforming teams at Leinster and the Waratahs and led them to the 2009 European Cup and 2014 Super Rugby titles respectively.

Winning the major