Cheika expects brutal encounter

Sean McMahon replaced suspended flanker Michael Hooper in a like-for-like selection for Australia that will ensure the battle at the breakdown will be the key to the Rugby World Cup Pool A decider against Wales.

It might be overstating Cheika’s clairvoyant abilities to state that he had also pencilled in George North at outside centre and Gareth Anscombe at full-back, but the former Waratahs coach learnt long ago that Gatland has a veritable warren of rabbits up his sleeve. Wales, though, will need to end a run of 10 successive defeats against Australia, who are 3/8 to extend their winning streak and 4/11 to top the group.

“I think it’s going to go right down to the wire so I want to make sure our finishers are prepared”.

“Whoever plays there for them, they have strength in depth no matter what”.

“Plenty can happen”, said the Papau New Guinea-born halfback. “They played a really good game against England and were able to grind out a result”, Ashley-Cooper said of Wales. The Wallabies and Wales are tied at first place in their pool standings with three wins and 13 points.

“We supposedly had momentum after we beat New Zealand in Sydney as well (in the Rugby Championship earlier this year)”, said the 48-year-old coach.

Stuart Lancaster and his skipper Chris Robshaw both offered profuse apologies for a debacle in which they squandered a 10-point lead to lose 25-22 to Wales and then the annihilation at the hands of Australia.

“But it’s more important in training to get the most out of those guys so we can put performances like that in on a weekend”.

The 26-year-old added: “It’s not 100 percent but I’m confident, otherwise I wouldn’t be strapping on the boots and going out there tomorrow”.

Gareth Anscombe has admitted he thought his World Cup dream might have been snatched away due to injury. “We are playing against the current champions of the southern hemisphere, a team that has been in fantastic form recently”.

“We are desperate to win this game, as win this group and potentially your road through to quarters, semis, and final is a little bit easier”, he said.

“Stephen Larkham is one of the greatest players I ever saw play the game and he is one of the best coaches now”. That is disrespecting the opposition and that is not what we are about.

It was a double blow for England who at a stroke became the first host nation to fail to emerge from the pool stages.

Wales have lost 10 matches in a row against the Wallabies, and are determined to avoid another narrow loss to Australia in Saturday’s RWC fixture.

“I know how hard the challenge is mentally as well as physically”, he said.

“It’s two squads of 23 on the day and it’s anyone’s game”, he is quoted as saying by Wales Online.