Australian coach, Michael Cheika says his players, are focused only on their opening game against Fiji on Thursday morning, though the majority of the 31-man squad have rebuffed all questions on playing pool opponents England and Wales.
“I’ve had a lot of advice from different Australian coaches and players involved in World Cups to really genuinely go a match at a time,” he said. “I’ve gone to even more of an extreme and tried to go a day at a time. We’re trying to knock off each day and getting something from it.”
Cheika travelled up from Bath to watch England’s opening game at Twickenham and revealed that, he too, only had eyes only for Fiji.
“When I went to the game I really tried to keep the focus on our next opponent. What we saw from Saturday’s result (Japan’s win), if you take your eye off the ball for a minute you will get pounded. I am certainly not going to take my eye off the ball and I will worry about that hurdle when it comes.”
With Australia set to name their line-up for the Fiji game on Monday, Cheika is enjoying his first game in charge at a World Cup.
As he said, he may be “behind the eight ball” in comparison with rival nations who have had four years to prepare for rugby’s showpiece event, but the Sydneysider just wants to get going now.
“They’re living together well, pushing each other and taking advice off their teammates on how they can perform on match days. They are ready to play ball.”
Japan’s stirring win over South Africa has offered food for thought for Michael Cheika, admitting he will not be taking his “eye off the ball” as he bids to steer the Wallabies safely through the pool stages of Rugby World Cup 2015.
Australia, the world No 2 side, have spent nearly a week in relative isolation at their training base in Bath, avoiding the media circus centered on the likes of New Zealand and England. And that is just the way Cheika likes it.