Rugby Championship 2015: Aussies beat All Blacks at last thanks to White

Cheika said he was proud of his side’s effort and did his best to play down any hype surrounding the win. “But we’ve been here before, we’ve lost games before and doesn’t mean to say we’ve become a bad side”, Hansen said.

Hooper and Pocock – veterans of 42 and 45 caps, respectively – are both openside flankers at club level, and alternated in the number seven jersey in the Wallabies’ opening two matches in the Rugby Championship.

They trailed the All Blacks 6-3 at half-time, but controlled much of the second half and now have the chance in Auckland next weekend to win back the Bledisloe Cup they last held in 2002.

White then kicked a 47-metre penalty goal and broke through two tackles close to the All Blacks line to dart over for Australia’s clinching try with eight minutes left.

It was White’s turn to grab the spotlight on Saturday with a long-range penalty and converted try late against the All Blacks at Sydney’s Olympic stadium, though utility Matt Toomua’s lively second half-cameo was almost as valuable.

Steve Hansen will rue the many basic errors from his New Zealand team, particularly in the tackling department, where basic one-on-one hits were missed at key moments.

It will be the first time the dynamic Australian loose forwards have started together with Cheika putting their combined scavenging skills up against the legendary McCaw.

An uncharacteristic All Blacks spill from the kickoff and a good shove in the first scrum gave Australia early hope that it might be their night, but they were soon defending their line after a burst from Milner-Skudder.

“It’s probably the biggest challenge in world rugby going to Eden Park and we know that”, Cheika said.

“That’s something we want as part of our identity… not taking a backward step, that’s leading in the physicality stakes”.

Bernard Foley has retained the flyhalf jersey after suggestions that Matt Giteau could return to the position having recovered from injury, though the Toulon utility back has been selected at inside centre, giving the Wallabies a dual playmaking option at first receiver if needed. Debutant Nehe Milner-Skudder crashed over after a terrific offload from Dan Carter found Ben Smith who popped a pass to his flying right winger to make it 14-10.

Australia will be ones to watch at the World Cup.

“We have spoken about our finishers and the job they have to do and Nic White was given more time tonight based on the way he has performed in his training”, Cheika added.

He fashioned a brilliant grubber-kick for Adam Ashley-Cooper to chase, and the winger did not let the opportunity slip as he contrived a stunning try, leaping high and touching the ball down a fraction of a second before being taken out.

“You must be doing something right if you get the odd boo here and there, that’s the way I look at it”, McCaw said on Friday.

“I don’t think it’s a gamble”, Cheika told Fox Sports’ Rugby headquarters on Thursday.