Clean bill of health for Australia from coach Michael Cheika as Wallabies

Wallabies lock Rob Simmons knows a bit about quick journeys after scoring the fastest try of this World Cup against Argentina, in just the second minute of Sunday’s win.

Mitchell, in his third World Cup, has 14 tries, one behind the record jointly held by South Africa’s Bryan Habana, Mitchell’s Toulon team-mate, and former All Blacks great Jonah Lomu. “The rest of the stuff [about me], I haven’t thought about any of that”.

But yesterday, Australian coach Michael Cheika said the early signs were encouraging that everyone would be available for the final at Twickenham. Argentina’s stand out player was Hernandez who kicked accurately and his movement when he had the ball in hand was excellent.

While the Wallabies kept pushing the Pumas towards defeat, Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade exclaimed, “If we played again I would play the same plan, our legacy should be the way we play the game”.

“This is a huge honour and a privilege for me”, Owens said on Monday ahead of what will be his 68th test.

He said: “You’ve got to want to put your head in there to get the result”. They can nevertheless be proud of their performance this tournament and they have proven beyond doubt that they are now a serious force in world rugby, but Australia were better in the moments that mattered.

They were employed for the first time in Sydney to revelatory effect.

“We are the best in the world at the breakdown, pilfering the ball but also the pressure the guys are putting on”, said Eales, who led the Wallabies to the 1999 World Cup crown.

We knew before this game that he had that job should we get the opportunity to play in [the final],’ Fox told Newstalk ZB.

New Zealand, who edged out South Africa 20-18 in the first semi-final, start as favorites in Saturday’s final.

“We’ve only beaten them once in the last 10, so they’ll be feeling pretty good, like they’ve got our measure”.

Asked how much the Aussies had in reserve, Cheika said: “Probably about 80 minutes, I reckon”.

However, Friday’s match against the Springboks could be Lobbe’s last for the Pumas as only players at the new team in Buenos Aires will, in future, be deemed eligible for global duty by the Argentina Rugby Union. Both teams have never faced each other in a Rugby World Cup final and fans expect a few extraordinary display of class on the eve of October 31. “It is a learning curve; we review the mistakes we made and our legacy will be the way we play the game”. “That’s something we’re getting good at working at”.

“Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t: we didn’t score [a try] against Wales, but like you’ve seen it’s not always the magic formula either”.

When you have a team like New Zealand has, that has many threats, well drilled, an excellent coach, well organised.