Cheika has blinkers on for Wales Test

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has cast all thoughts of World Cup preparation aside to focus on the challenge of restoring Australia’s winning mentality and sense of self-belief against Wales.

Cheika’s first Test match as head coach takes on added significance given the nations will meet in a crucial group stage encounter at next year’s World Cup in the UK.

But the new coach is approaching Saturday’s (Sunday morning AEDT) match at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium with tunnel vision as Australia look to rebuild from three successive defeats and months of off-field turmoil.

“It (self belief) is something we’ve got to rebuild a little bit,” Cheika said on Thursday.

“Truth be told, the guys have been hit over the head with a stick for a while now so it’s about time we started to get a bit more self-belief, do our absolute best and then let the cards fall where they may.”

Along with a chance to size up Australia’s World Cup group opponents, the upcoming Tests represent an opportunity for Cheika to begin forming a clearer picture of his squad for next year’s tournament.

While some of his players admit they see the tour as somewhat of an audition, Cheika insists any long-term thinking has given way to channelling all his energy into his first Test assignment.

“More than normal for me as a coach, I’ve tried to stick to looking at only what’s required for the team to play to its potential on Saturday,” Cheika said.

Predictably, much of the pre-match talk has centred Australia’s recent dominance against the Welsh.

The Wallabies have won the past nine encounters between the nations dating back to 2009, but Cheika, in keeping with his current short-term thinking, doesn’t subscribe to the theory another win would hand his side a critical mental advantage next year.

“I’ve never seen a game of rugby that has an influence on another game of rugby in 12 months’ time,” Cheika said.

“I’m just looking for one in a row and that’s it.”

The coach followed through with his vow to keep faith with the bulk of the side that fell by a point to the All Blacks in Ewen McKenzie’s last game in charge, with rookie Sean McMahon and fit-again No.8 Ben McCalman the only additions to the starting side.

However it appears a host of players will need to perform to keep their spots against France next week, with Cheika admitting several selections effectively came down to a coin toss.

Centre Matt Toomua (overlooked), winger Rob Horne (bench) and second rower James Horwill (bench) were among the most unlucky.

“Sometimes you’ve just got to make a choice, back it and know you’ve got other players who can still come in and add something,” Cheika said.

“I told those guys ‘I could have just as easily picked you as the other guys’ but I wanted to try and keep some sort of format to it and let it grow over the next four or five weeks.”

Cheika appeared to take motivation from reading some local reports suggesting the Wallabies were ripe for the picking at the moment.

“A lot of people aren’t giving us much of a show in this match, I don’t think, so it’s going to be up to us to dig our heels in and push hard to be successful on Saturday,” he said.

AUSTRALIA vs WALES

Test match, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Saturday, November 7, 2.30pm (0130 AEDT Sunday)

Head to head: Australia 26, Wales, 10, drawn 1

Last meeting: Australia bt Wales 30-26, Cardiff, Nov 2013

Odds: Australia: Australia $1.61, Wales $2.40

Teams

Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Sean McMahon, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, Sekope Kepu, Saia Faingaa, James Slipper. Reserves: James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Will Skelton, Matt Hodgson, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Rob Horne (one to be omitted)

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, George North, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate, Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Samson Lee, Richard Hibbard, Paul James. Reserves: Scott Baldwin, Gethin Jenkins, Rhodri Jones, Bradley Davies, Justin Tipuric, Mike Phillips, Rhys Priestland, Cory Allen.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!