Australia has stayed well out of the spotlight in its lead up to the World cup, after a camp in the US and Cheika said he was happy with how the team has progressed.
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The Wallabies open their World Cup campaign against Fiji in Cardiff on Wednesday.
Cheika has laid out his plan to deploy different starting line-ups for Australia’s opening two clashes, with the second fixture – against Uruguay in Birmingham on Sunday – coming on a short turnaround from their Fijian opener.
The tearaway 21-year-old has made life difficult for teammates and has been pushing hard to demand selection, despite falling behind world-class flankers David Pocock and Hooper in the pecking order for the No.7 jersey.
“But they’re world-class players”. They have to discover what it takes to get that. “Pocock is on the ball and Hooper’s better around the paddock”.
Try counts have ebbed and flowed in World Cup history but the one constant of the seven teams who’ve won has been outstanding defence.
Coach Michael Cheika has instilled a no-holds-barred training mentality to challenge his battle-ready players.
Farr-Jones backed Genia to get the nod ahead of Phipps and Foley in at No.10 with veteran Matt Giteau at inside centre.
Quade Cooper believes he has learned a lot from his World Cup disappointment four years ago as he prepares for this year’s tournament. “He has to find that form”, Farr-Jones said. “We know there are more big wins to come for Jason and wish him well”.
Ashley-Cooper is one of five Wallabies lining up for their third World Cup and it will nearly definitely be the outside back’s last. “We’ve got a good idea”.
“These could be the last times I put on the green and gold and playing for Australia”. Brumbies duo Speight and Joseph Tomane provide X-factor, but they are yet to prove themselves on the worldwide stage.
Former England coach Clive Woodward has serious doubts about Australia’s props and Rugby World Cup ambitions but Michael Cheika is unfazed. He said: “There will be moments of individual brilliance where we’ll look back and say “wow”, and that’s what this World Cup is all about”.
Skipper Stephen Moore said the Wallabies’ two-week stint allowed the team to fly under the radar.
“The positive is that none of them are wildcards any more, they’ve all proven themselves”, Kearns said.
“We’ve just been training against each other for what seems like so long now that we just want to play – you want to tackle someone else”.
“For me to be here is really exciting”.
Boos followed his every step, save for his kick-off which went straight into touch to start the semi-final against the All Blacks.
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“We ordered our tickets in August previous year “.
