WALLABIES WIN CARDIFF CLASSIC
WALLABIES boss Michael Cheika may scoff at another fun-and-games sideshow erupting but Eddie Jones is just waiting for the right moment to take the heat off rusty England before Saturday’s Twickenham blockbuster.
The Wallabies will head to London full of confidence after a freakish Kurtley Beale try and enormous character with 14 men in defence delivered the 29-21 victory over Wales in Cardiff yesterday.
Not since the 2015 Rugby World Cup have the Wallabies won four straight Tests and here was more vintage tackling to cover for skipper Michael Hooper when he was sin-binned.
While Cheika was smiling, Jones found himself defending an expletive-spiced outburst of frustration at Twickenham yesterday during a lacklustre 21-8 win over Argentina.
Jones was caught by TV cameras slamming a notebook and shouting “How f***ing stupid are we?” at a silly penalty as his team lurched unconvincingly to perhaps the worst of his 20 wins from 21 Tests in charge.
Typically, Jones just moved on: “We want to play good rugby and I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be frustrated.
“We’ve got a very clear vision of how we want to play against Australia and it should be fun. We are hoping Australia bring their absolute best game.”
It was the first hitout by a full-strength England since March, whereas the Wallabies have been grooved by 12 Tests since then on their upward arc.
The Wallabies are every chance of revenge for the ugly 0-4 ledger against Eddie and England last year and Cheika seemed peeved no such credit is being given in England.
“We understand the pundits over here don’t think we are much of a chance. They’ve already given England 3-0 for (the Tests in) November,” Cheika said. “I saw one commentator say with all respect to Australia a good club side would beat them.” Cheika wryly added: “I don’t think there is too much for them (England) to worry about.”
The Wallabies do have plenty of artillery and the value of Cardiff was winning differently without slick set plays clicking or rampant running.
Tries were generated by Bernard Foley kicks, a clinical 5m lineout drive for Tatafu Polota-Nau, a 15-phase build-up for Hooper’s record try (15) as a Wallaby forward and Beale’s ball-strip and 65m dash.
Beale’s effort to fleece Welsh winger Steff Evans was another show of alert defence and so surprised everyone he ran untouched for the game-winning 29-16 lead after 62 minutes.
Surely, it all made for a bit of fun with Eddie this week, asked one British journalist.
“Mate it’s irrelevant, It’s Australia versus England,” Cheika said. “It’s not about fun with Eddie or anyone. We’ll have fun in our own camp and prepare ourselves the best we can.”
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