Murray Kinsella reports from the Lensbury Hotel
MICHAEL CHEIKA SAYS his Australia team expected to be facing Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals.
The Pumas blitzed Joe Schmidt’s Ireland in their World Cup quarter-final last weekend, emerging as convincing 43-20 victors in the Millennium Stadium.
As the Wallabies prepare to face Argentina in Sunday’s semi-final at Twickenham, former Leinster boss Cheika says he was not surprised to see the Pumas come through their knock-out tie with Ireland.
“Am I surprised that they’re in the semi-final? No, not at all,” said Cheika this morning at Australia’s team hotel in Teddington.
I expected it totally. We see them on a regular basis over the years now in the Rugby Championship and so we’re not surprised at all at their position now. We would have expected it, so we’ve been preparing accordingly.”
Cheika has a number of serious injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s meeting with the Pumas, with Israel Folau (ankle), David Pocock (calf) and Scott Sio (elbow) struggling to prove their fitness.
The fact that Australia will train this afternoon meant Cheika had an easy out when asked about the status of that trio.
“After today, we’ll know,” said Cheika. “This morning, I’ll find out what they’re going to do at training and after that we’ll decide on how we roll.
“They’re on the improve and they did a little bit earlier in the week. The goal will be for them to finish the full session today and see how we go.”
The growing sense is that it would be a surprise to see Pocock, Folau and Sio in the Australian team named later today, although Cheika will surely take a risk if any of those key players is borderline.
“It’s not like we’re keeping anyone for next week,” said Cheika.
Losing rampant breakdown specialist Pocock, world-class fullback Folau and set-piece cornerstone Sio would be a telling blow for Australia.
Being shorn of those important players would mean Cheika’s famous motivational ability would be tested even more than usual, although lock Rob Simmons says the Wallabies’ head coach hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary ahead of Sunday.
“Not this week, he’s been pretty normal this week,” said Simmons. “He’s making sure he’s not leaving any stone unturned. After last week, he’s making sure everyone’s on board and ready to go for this weekend.
“He speaks a lot and speaks very well. He gets everyone motivated and pumped up before the games and if you’re not pumped after he’s speaking, I don’t know what will.”
Fingers have never been more crossed for RG.
He’s had more than enough bad luck. Time for him to show what he can do. #SUAF
@Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: Agreed but starting his return on an artificial pitch mightn’t be the smartest move.
@TL55: 100%.
Be mad to test him out there.
Leave it till thomand or any other turf pitch.
That 4g is hard on knees.
@Paddy Waggon: agree… the last 20/25 mins in Limerick as a reintroduction…. A sixth spot for Munster in the URC prior to plays is exactly where they want to be…
Sixth secures HC for next year… but equally important if we finish fifth in the URC we will have to travel to play the team who finished second … guess who another trip to SA for to face the Stormers…. We already have 2 remaining fixtures in SA in the URC run of games and we have the game in the HC (Sharks) … so sixth is our best position …. I’d be more than happy with that and lifting a trophy with Synman. How bad
@Denis O Sullivan: oh by the way sixth in the URC would mean we would have to travel North to play Ulster as the table stands today. Better than going to SA to face Stormers or worse again if the Bulls finish third….
Good luck RG.
No one deserves the bad luck you’ve had.
If the Insta clips are to be believed Ahearn is training with the team, same for Okeke, is anyone signed up for the ‘extra content’ thing? looks to be cameras with them all the time now.