Cheika keeps Beale, Toomua combo
Wallabies coach praised the “ticker” shown by his players as they produced an excellent defensive display, particularly in the dying stages. No tries were scored in the second half. This Saturday, Australia face Argentina in Gold Coast while All Blacks ta
Michael Cheika says he is happy to persist with Kurtley Beale at No.10 and Saturday’s man-of-thematch Matt Toomua at No.12 for upcoming Tests following Australia’s 23-18 win over the Springboks in Brisbane.
After dropping regular five-eighth Bernard Foley to the bench for the first time in 51 Tests, Cheika liked what he saw from Beale and Toomua on a night where Australia’s backs did not get as much quality ball as they would have liked at times. Asked whether he would stick with the duo for future Tests- Australia’s next match is against Argentina on the Gold Coast this Saturday- Cheika said: “Yeah, I definitely think they did a good job out there in some difficult circumstances.” “They had some nice plays set up that just didn’t come up but that’s the first week they’ve played together. I think Bernard went quite well when he came on the field and that’s exactly what we want. We want to have competition for those spots.” “We’re working really hard on those combinations,” Beale said.
“The conditions didn’t really help with the dewy ball but I think our forwards stepped up and delivered a really solid platform for us to get the win.” Toomua, who starred in his first Test for the Wallabies in over two years, added: “It was just great to be out there. It’s been a few hard weeks for us, a bit of soul searching here and there, so we’ll enjoy that and then get back on the horse.”
Cheika explained that second-rower Adam Coleman was a late withdrawal on the day of the match because he needed to be with his wife who is heavily pregnant. Rob Simmons flew up from Sydney at short notice to come off the bench in what was his 88th Test.
“There was no question of him [Coleman] getting back [to be with family] tonight,” Cheika said.
“I feel so guilty because I made Sydney guys make him play [in the National Rugby Championship]. I rang [Sydney Rays] coach Chris Whitaker at 12:30pm and said: ‘mate, I need this bloke back on the plane’. He didn’t have another player. I’m not sure if they played with 22 or not, so I apologise.”
As for Israel Folau, who was also ruled out on match day with an ankle injury that has troubled him all week, Cheika said he would be assessed over the coming days to see if he is a chance of playing against the Pumas, who were beaten 46-24 by the All Blacks in Nelson last Saturday.