Michael Cheika says he is happy to persist with Kurtley Beale at No.10 and Saturday’s man-of-the-match Matt Toomua at No.12 for upcoming Tests following Australia’s 23-18 win over the Springboks in Brisbane.
After dropping regular five-eighth Bernard Foley to the bench for the first time in 51 Tests, Cheika liked what he saw from Beale and Toomua on a night where Australia’s backs did not get as much quality ball as they would have liked at times.
Kurtley Beale in action against Frans Malherbe.
Asked whether he would stick with the duo for future Tests – Australia's next match is against Argentina on the Gold Coast next Saturday – Cheika said: “Yeah, I definitely think they did a good job out there in some difficult circumstances."
“They had some nice plays set up that just didn’t come up but that’s the first week they’ve played together. I think Bernard went quite well when he came on the field and that’s exactly what we want. We want to have competition for those spots.”
Speaking on Fox Sports after the match, Beale said there was still plenty to work on.
“We’re working really hard on those combinations,” Beale said. “Tonight the conditions didn’t really help with the dewy ball but I think our forwards stepped up and delivered a really solid platform for us to get the win.”
Toomua, who starred in his first Test for the Wallabies in over two years, added: “It was just great to be out there. It’s been a few hard weeks for us, a bit of soul searching here and there, so we’ll enjoy that and then get back on the horse.”
Michael Cheika congratulates Kurtley Beale following the win.
With no shortage of pressure on Cheika over the past two weeks in light of two ugly defeats to the All Blacks, the Wallabies boss praised the “ticker” shown by his players as they produced an excellent defensive display, particularly in the dying stages. No tries were scored in the second half.
“They worked hard together, they pushed hard," Cheika said. "In general we couldn’t get over the stripe there at one stage.
“When things went against us we wanted to fight and get back up and get into it. We’ve had a lot going on in the back-end of the week in particular. Everyone held their nerve pretty well in the end.”
Captain Michael Hooper said: “[I] use the word resilience a lot. I think our players have shown that over the last couple of weeks to go out there tonight and be comfortable in some really tough places there.
Matt Toomua kicks a penalty.
“Great to see some smiles on faces and a great reward for the whole group of coaches, staff, players alike putting in some really solid efforts.”
Cheika explained that second-rower Adam Coleman was a late withdrawal on the day of the match because he needed to be with his wife who is heavily pregnant.
Rob Simmons flew up from Sydney at short notice to come off the bench in what was his 88th Test.
“There was no question of him [Coleman] getting back [to be with family] tonight,” Cheika said.
“I feel so guilty because I made Sydney guys make him play [in the National Rugby Championship]. I rang [Sydney Rays] coach Chris Whitaker at 12:30pm and said: ‘mate, I need this bloke back on the plane’. He didn’t have another player. I’m not sure if they played with 22 or not, so I apologise.”
As for Israel Folau, who was also ruled out on match day with an ankle injury that has troubled him all week, Cheika said he would be assessed over the coming days to see if he is a chance of playing against the Pumas, who were beaten 46-24 by the All Blacks in Nelson on Saturday.
“I thought he was going to play this week,” Cheika said. “I’m certainly not going to say he’s going to be there next week. I’m going to see how the week pans out prepare accordingly. I don’t think he’d be too far away.”
Pressed on David Pocock’s sore neck which kept him out of the match, Cheika said: “He’s still got a fair bit of neck stiffness. He’s the ultimate pro, Pocock. He’ll be doing everything he can to be back.”
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus, who is under significant pressure himself to provide results, slammed his team's performance.
"We could have put them away if we didn't play stupid rugby at stages," Erasmus said. "They grinded back and we had to chase down 14 points. In the second half I think the pressure got to a few guys and they will have to learn to handle that and I will have to include myself in that.
"I thought our mauling was great today but in other things we're getting worse. For me that's the frustrating thing that I as a coach have to take not just responsibility but also take the consequences for that.
"We have to find the right combinations and the challenge for us is to find it quick enough or get fired."
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