Former Argentina flyhalf Felipe Contepomi was named on Monday to replace Michael Cheika as coach of the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-finalists. Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP)
Michael Cheika says the Pumas still need work
Michael Cheika was inspired by his team’s “landmark” victory against Australia, but the shrewd veteran anticipates more work ahead.
Former Argentina flyhalf Felipe Contepomi was named on Monday to replace Michael Cheika as coach of the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-finalists. Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP)
Coach Michael Cheika of Argentina was inspired by his team’s “landmark” victory against Australia, but the shrewd veteran anticipates more work ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
Los Pumas achieved their first-ever back-to-back triumphs over the Wallabies on Saturday in Sydney with a thrilling 34-31 Rugby Championship victory on Saturday.
Michael Cheika says the job is not yet done
The two teams may face off in the World Cup quarterfinals in France, but Cheika, who has held the position since taking over for Mario Ledesma last year, said it was too soon to make such a prediction.
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“Every game in itself is a new game. I mean, there’s a lot of teams that we haven’t been able to beat yet that we are still going to have to beat in that (World Cup) environment,” said the former Wallabies coach.
“But it’s (the win’s) good for the improvements, great for the boys.
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“All of the team and the staff have been putting in a lot of hours over this last bit and it’s nice for them to get this reward.”
Argentina are in World Cup group D together with Chile, England, Japan, and Samoa.
On October 14, in Marseille, the runner-up of that group will compete against the victor of Australia’s Group C, which also includes Wales, Fiji, Georgia, and Portugal.
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Argentina’s determination to defeat Australia boded well for the World Cup as they came back from a 10-0 deficit to control territory and possession while only committing 80 tackles as opposed to the 200 Australia was forced to make.
“It was like a landmark, it was one of the few times we have been able to get a win against a team of this level, when we haven’t been at our best either,” said Cheika.
“But we were able to manufacture a win. There was a lot of good improvements from last week, which is what I wanted,” he added, referring to their 41-12 thrashing by New Zealand on home soil.
“No matter what would have happened with the result in the end, I was pretty pleased with the changes.
“Hopefully we can continue that into the weeks coming.
“We were a bit ill-disciplined in the first half which cost us, we made a few bad decisions. But they are things that as we move along and stay together we will improve.”
