Australia’s coach Michael Cheika walks away after receiving his runners-up medal after the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand at Twickenham in London. (Reuters)
AFP/London
Australia’s courageous 34-17 World Cup final defeat to New Zealand is just the start on a path to perhaps going one better in four years’ time believes their charismatic coach Michael Cheika.
The 48-year-old—who performed wonders in uniting and reviving a divided and demoralised squad in only a year—said there were a lot of positives to take away and build on after a final widely regarded as the best ever.
“We’ve got to keep growing. I told the players afterwards ‘Don’t be counting down lads, this is just the start’,” said Cheika.
“We’ve been really honest with the way we’ve done things. It came pretty quick as a group for us though, and I think we’ve handled it well.
“I’ve been very, very proud of the team, there’s not much more I could have asked them to do.”
Cheika, the only coach to have guided teams to the Northern and Southern Hemisphere continental club trophies in Leinster and NSW Waratahs, respectively, said the steely resolve his players had shown in clawing their way back to 21-17 after trailing 21-3 in the second-half was a real positive.
“We could easily have gone home then, and said ‘okay we’re sweet’,” said Cheika.
“But the heart and the courage in the team that’s been built and will last us going forward meant they didn’t want to do that.”
Chief among the players Cheika will seek to build a World Cup winning team around will be two of his outstanding backrow forwards - 24-year-old Michael Hooper and the ‘rebel’ with many causes David Pocock, 27.
“Pocock and Hooper are both not only outstanding players but outstanding people and that usually sets the right agenda for longevity in the game,” opined Cheika.
However, for several of the Wallabies the 2019 World Cup will probably be out of the question. The likes of centre Matt Giteau, wings Drew Mitchell and Adam Ashley-Cooper and captain Stephen Moore will all be in their mid to late 30’s.
Prop Sekope Kepu, who was fortunate to avoid being sin-binned for two high tackles in the first-half, will be 33 in four years’ time and he sounded what appeared to be a farewell to arms for himself.
“With the group of guys we have, we’ve built something special in the last 11 months and I’m sure the guys will keep that going,” Kepu told AFP.
“There’s a lot of young guys in the team and hopefully this will make them more hungry for four years’ time.
“There’s definitely good foundations for the future. Eleven months ago, no-one thought that we would ever make the World Cup final.
“We’ll just learn from it, that’s the biggest thing, and build on the relationships and the bonds that we’ve built so far.”
Kepu, who along with Ashley-Cooper will play for French side Bordeaux-Begles, said the unity within the squad engendered by Cheika would serve the team well in the future where their differences vis-a-vis club rugby are left at the front door.
“Credit to Michael Cheika and his coaching staff. The last 11 months have been a time that I’ll remember forever.
“I’ve never been a part of a team that’s been so tight and wanted to play for each other more than anything and wore the jersey with pride.”
Scott Fardy, the third member of the outstanding backrow but who will be 35 in 2019, concurred.
“There’s a lot more growth for us yet. We have to look forward to next year and the next three-Test series with England in Australia,” said Fardy, who refused to leave the town in Japan where he was playing second tier rugby and stayed to help in the clean-up and rescue after the devastating 2011 tsunami/earthquake.
“I believe that the next group of guys coming through will compete in four years. We’re grooming future really quality players and that’s been the aim.”
One thing, though, that will not survive is the subscription to the English newspaper that published a photo of the Australian tactics caught on camera on Friday.
“I think I’ll cancel my subscription to the Daily Mail or whatever it was. I’m not sure I’ve got one but my wife probably does,” said Cheika with some of his trademark humour.
