Greater work ethic wins the day for Cheika
AUSTRALIA coach Michael Cheika said his team’s work ethic was the key factor in their victory over Ireland but warned his players they have to step up to another level next week.
Cheika blooded three new caps and got some big performances from his more experienced players as the Wallabies outscored the tourists two tries to nil to inflict a first defeat in 13 Tests on the Six Nations champions.
Even if it was far from fluent attacking rugby from the home side, Cheika was delighted with the work rate his team displayed.
‘Looking at previous games, Ireland, particularly in the forward pack, have outworked other teams,’ he said.
‘We needed to win the “hard work” battle just to have a foothold and then see what our backs could do from there. We were far from perfect but I think that work ethic got us through.’
Skipper Michael Hooper gave a typically committed 80-minute performance in the back row and his fellow flanker David Pocock showed Australia what they had been missing last year.
‘We knew it was going to be tough and it was in the balance for most of the game,’ said Pocock, who scored a try on his return after a sabbatical.
‘We hung in there and played with the ball. There’s plenty more to come.’