Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is looking forward to Stephen Larkham’s “awesome” input as they join forces officially for the first time to plot an unprecedented third Australian Rugby World Cup triumph.
A 51-man squad of World Cup hopefuls have gathered in Brisbane for a three-day camp that Cheika hopes will have Australia’s state rivals firmly “on the same page” less than six months out from the global showpiece.
Although the NSW and Wallabies coach has regularly visited each of the other four Australian franchises since his national appointment before last year’s spring tour, the camp starting on Sunday is his first uniting players from the Waratahs, Brumbies, Queensland Reds, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels.
“It will be nice to see what Michael has planned for us the next couple of days,” said Wallabies captain Michael Hooper.
“It’s exciting to get up there. It’s been a new thing that all the players have adopted nicely.”
Cheika is especially excited about introducing Larkham, the Brumbies mentor and 1999 World Cup hero who he appointed as assistant coach last month.
“It’s going to be great giving him the whole game plan of the team and everything like that. He’ll enjoy it,” Cheika said.
“In the discussions we’ve had, you can see already where he is going to add something.
“I can really feel it. Just the small times we’ve had together, the things he’s said and what he’s going to be doing around that, I’m really looking forward to his input.
“It’s going to be awesome.”
Despite the camp being training-free, Cheika hopes to get through plenty of intelligence work.
The master motivator said harmonising the group was a priority.
“It’s about getting everyone together first,” he said.
“There’s nothing like having a sit-down and everyone having a meal together and getting to know each other and (gaining) respect.
“Then obviously there’ll be some admin stuff, some game stuff, like game knowledge and getting the language in sync.
“It’ll be a mental prep to just get everyone ticking over, talking about it. We want guys going back to their teams and spreading the word about what’s happening.
“That’s what we’re hoping to achieve.”
Although Australian have just three Rugby Championship games against New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina plus a second Bledisloe Cup Test with the All Blacks before the World Cup, Cheika hasn’t closed the door on any newcomers breaking into the Wallabies fold.
He said national selectors would consider tinkering with the preliminary 51-man squad following a review of the Australian franchises’ opening six games of Super Rugby.
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