Wallabies must find killer instinct: Cheika

By Justin Chadwick / Wire

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says his team need to develop a killer instinct after watching another potential victory go begging.

The Wallabies were on track for their first victory of this year’s Rugby Championship after shooting out to a 20-10 lead against South Africa in Perth on Saturday night.

But with the Wallabies’ scrum and line-out misfiring, South Africa piled on the next 13 points to surge to a three-point lead.

A 71st-minute penalty to Bernard Foley and some resolute defence at the death saw the Wallabies escape with a 23-23 draw in front of 17,528 fans at nib Stadium.

But the game will be remembered as another lost opportunity; coming just a fortnight after the Wallabies coughed up a 17-point lead in a 35-29 defeat to the All Blacks in Dunedin.

Cheika was proud of his team’s effort against the Springboks, but said some concentration lapses cost them dearly.

However, the coach remains confident it won’t be long before his group develop a knack of nailing the clutch moments.

“It comes with that little bit more time and trusting each other together,” Cheika said.

“There are a lot of newer players within a newer leadership team.

“Now we’ve got a bit of stability around the group. I’m pretty comfortable with our group of players.

“There’s the odd player here or there that might come in or out. But they’ll grow together as time goes on now.”

The Wallabies will face another stern test when they take on Argentina in Canberra next Saturday.

Captain Michael Hooper said his side weren’t satisfied with merely escaping with a draw against South Africa.

“I don’t think it’s a gutsy performance. That suggests we’re just hanging in there,” Hooper said.

“Around that 20-10 mark, we didn’t put the foot on the throat.”

Former skipper Stephen Moore will return for the clash with Argentina after missing the Springboks Test to stay in Brisbane for the birth of his third child.

Back rower Sean McMahon will be assessed after copping a heavy cork to his leg.

Cheika believes he can quickly fix the line-out issues that surfaced against South Africa.

And he said the scrum would be another area he looks at closely in the coming week following inconsistent displays in the past two games.

The Crowd Says:

2017-09-11T22:43:23+00:00

Neil

Guest


Beale and Folau are also Tahs, Pirate, ipso facto they must also must be hopeless. And that says it all.

2017-09-11T11:41:33+00:00

PiratesRugby

Guest


The only success Cheika has enjoyed has been with Pocock and Fardy of n the back row. Add a big strong running 8 and we're cooking. But alas... At one point we had Hanigan, Hooper, Dempsey as our backrow. Add to that Robertson up front and Phipps and Foley in the halves. No chance. I'm only amazed the Bokke didn't seal it.

2017-09-11T11:07:35+00:00

Neil

Guest


And there’s the difference, Pirate. The points you’ve raised are either accurate or subjective ie your opinion which is not necessarily shared by everyone, but certainly not based on rumour &/or innuendo, which was my objection to Levelheaded's post.

2017-09-11T00:50:28+00:00

PiratesRugby

Guest


Now be fair, level headed. Next you'll be making unfounded allegations that he punched a door, pushed a camera man, barged in on refs at half time, preferred his provincial players over more qualified and in form players form other provinces and promoted an ex NSW defence coach who had the worst defence in super rugby!

2017-09-10T23:05:10+00:00

Neil

Guest


No point in wasting time on unsupported rumours and innuendo, Levelheaded. Too much of that going around.

2017-09-10T22:46:46+00:00

PiratesRugby

Guest


Are Foley, Hanigan, Phipps, Dempsey and Robertson really the best we can produce? I can't even believe they're the best the Waratahs can produce. And what is Hooper's record as captain now?

2017-09-10T12:30:59+00:00

levelheaded

Guest


Great feedback Neil, super mate!

2017-09-10T10:44:58+00:00

Neil

Guest


So you have a mate who know a person who tells you stuff, Levelheaded. Ho hum.

2017-09-10T10:42:56+00:00

Connor33

Guest


I think NFL model would be better. 6 point dor the try. 1 point for the conversion.

2017-09-10T07:30:47+00:00

James Mathers

Guest


Yes. Big thumbs, big heart, private school boy who isn't intimidated by bogans!

2017-09-10T07:20:44+00:00

Vic rugby

Guest


Shaking down the aru for big bucks is a proud tradition

2017-09-10T07:03:52+00:00

DavSA

Guest


So write the article Levelhead. Sounds like it could be worth a read.

2017-09-10T06:44:06+00:00

levelheaded

Guest


Where is the article on why so many great young players are leaving our shores? Yes they may be fringe Wallaby players, but we need bench capability playing locally to grow the game. Point in question McMahon, Gill etc.Cheika has lost the dressing room. He is a political manipulator and spends most of his time trying to gain more power in organisations to what appears to be hiding personal insecurities. Read articles from his move from Ireland to the big game in France and his ego came out in spades - the owner sacked him and quickly. I had a mate who worked in the office at the Waratahs and he said this person enjoyed undermining everyone. Supposedly ranted, used the media and his mates until he got his own way - this was for his own gain, pay rises, trying to fiddle the system and general power/control. The Waratahs boss at the time challenged his desire to undermine all including loud disrespectful comments about his current employer, folks in the community game and office staff well below is payroll - he supposedly knew best and he knew his old mates would protect him more than the Boss. After seeing him speak at lunches, I have started to do a bit of research as he talks a good story. What I am starting to find out is this guy is a bully, political beast who recites without clarity references from leadership books. Let's face it, Pulver and the Board have been a disaster, Cheika is the poison. Who on earth trusts him in Rugby? How could you...a regrettable period for our great game. Wipe the decks clear, press the re-set button, speak honestly and for god's sake be Leaders ARU!

2017-09-10T06:36:36+00:00

Jacky

Guest


No Dean you sound like you may be just as big a grub as Cheika looks

2017-09-10T06:34:50+00:00

DavSA

Guest


I did not see it the same way as Cheika and Hooper. If anyone thought they had let a winning opportunity slip up it would be the Springboks. They really had the hammer on the WB's last quarter.

2017-09-10T06:24:42+00:00

Fionn

Guest


You might be able to spell, James, but you do understand that full stops come immediately after the end of a word, and not following a space, right?

2017-09-10T06:18:07+00:00

Jan

Guest


Perhaps Cheika considers his look as designer stubble , not homeless

2017-09-10T05:41:31+00:00

Ben

Guest


Yea i remember early in the game he shrugged off the tackle on their halfback, got up went to make another tackle and got palmed off...all in the same movement. Looked ridiculously too easy. Cant for the life of me understand why hes there.

2017-09-10T05:31:00+00:00

Kerry Murphy

Guest


It is quite a while since I commented on the Roar. I am the one who is the greatest supporter of James O'Connor and gave Pulver, Sharp, Cheka and the rest of the ARU hell over the way they treated him. Since then I have kept a low profile as I have been completely disgusted at the way Rugby Union In Australia generally has almost been destroyed by the Greed and Self interest of the few, the ARU Directors. Lets be honest, when the ARU is trying to justify getting rid of the Force they must honestly think that the ground roots Rugby supporters in Australia;ia are a bunch of Idiots. Look at the amounts of money being paid to support the weak performances of firstly the self entitled, self interested, non committing, untalented many capped Waratah players, and the Rebels in Melbourne ( in the heart of AFL territory, one place Rugby Union shouldn't be putting millions of dollars down the toilet) We all believe that the Waratahs should be first on the chopping block. I could name only four of their players that would qualify to play in the Wallabies - Foley, Kefhu, Beale and Falhu. No others would qualify in our opinion. They are the only ones who are committed to play as a team and support players chosen from other Super Rugby teams from the rest of Australia. Also the team that the ARU ( Pulver, Cline and Eales) want to get rid of is the best performing and growing Super Rugby team in Australia ( too much competition for the Waratahs). We have to face the facts that Cheka is the most useless excuse for an International Coach ever, he couldn't coach a kindergarten team. When they played the last Bledisloe game and Australia showed some improved form it was only through the efforts of Brad Thorn that this happened. I saw Cheka ranting and raving like the village idiot when he saw that his useless choice of Waraths wasn't sent on after half time " Whats happening, who changed the jerseys and gave them to different players" It was only because of this that the Wallabies wern't thrashed at that game. Great thanks to Brad Thorn who was sitting with the players and made the choice.I believe that Sanza should get right behind the push to sack the Self interested current ARU Board and Cheka and install a new one with true representation from each of the States and with members that have the true interests of Rugby Union in Australia at heart and who believe in the Grass Roots growth and support. Get rid or these Corporate bloodsuckers and paraniahas and back to our true roots.

2017-09-10T04:28:17+00:00

Jacky

Guest


My point about Folau is when he is compared to other fullbacks from around the world he is average.Adam Ashley C put more pressure on than Folau from restarts and in any case our Wallaby restarts on the whole are pretty average

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