Coach Cheika hails squad’s camaraderie

Australia coach Michael Cheika says his close-knit Wallabies squad are exactly where he wants them to be and bubbling with spirit as they head to the Rugby World Cup.

The two-time World Cup winners flew to Japan on Sunday after a 34-15 win against Samoa in Sydney featuring a mostly second-string side. But Cheika was pleased it had left him with a selection dilemma for the Wallabies’ opening game against Fiji on September 21.

“You want to have as many players as possible competing for the spots, it’s exactly where you want to be going into the tournament,” Cheika said. “I think we have a really good atmosphere in the team, where players all compete with each other and then once one gets selected, the other one works with him to make sure the right outcome comes in the game.”

Only three players from their Bledisloe Cup defeat to New Zealand in August were risked in the starting side on Saturday — Adam Coleman, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Marika Koroibete.

Coleman went off with a sore thumb, but everyone else came through unscathed, including inspirational flanker David Pocock, who played 58 minutes in his first international in almost a year after an injury-plagued season. A plus point for Cheika was the form of the lightning quick Koroibete, while veteran Will Genia distributed well from the scrum as he tries to force his way back into the team after being unseated recently by Nic White.

Long-time first-choice flyhalf Bernard Foley, who has lost his spot to Christian Lealiifano, had a solid game but kicked only two conversions from six attempts.

Of more concern will be handling errors and defensive lapses in the second half that allowed Samoa to score two tries, but Cheika said he is happy with “a really good hit-out”.

He said the squad is keen to get to Japan after a long build-up in which they have won three and lost two this season while dealing with the off-field drama of Israel Folau being sacked for homophobic comments.

“This is the closest I’ve seen the team from a camaraderie point of view since I’ve been involved with the side,” said the coach, who was also in charge during the previous World Cup four years ago when Australia lost in the final to New Zealand.