The success of the first Wallabies trial match at Leichhardt Oval has convinced Michael Cheika that it should become an annual event.
A crowd of 9373 crammed into the famous rugby league venue on Friday night to see a Wallaby squad team and a team of Super Rugby and club players do battle.
“Cheika’s Choice” ran away with the game in a nine-try to two victory but the willing Super selection side never stopped coming and provided a very solid pre-Bledisloe hit-out.
The game had a large audience on the RUGBY.com.au live stream and a crowd featuring lots of kids and families got a free night out, and the chance to meet players after the game on the field.
It all added up to a big thumbs up from Cheika, who only a year ago was openly sceptical about the value of a pre-Bledisloe Cup trial game.
“It was exactly what we wanted. It was very physical and we got tested, which was exactly what we wanted,” Cheika said.
“We saw some of our guys stick their hands up to go into the next squad and I thought some of their other team played quite well. But most important was the crowd, which was awesome.
“It was such a surprise. When we first put it on, we didn’t think we’d get so many people and they looked like they enjoyed it.
“It was a good night all around. I was very happy with it.”
Asked if the Wallabies should host a similar game annually, Cheika said: ‘I wouldn’t be complaining about it.”
“If you can mark it in as an event, not just for the preparation of the team but also for the crowd,” he continued.
“People get a chance to get up and get close. You can’t get this at a Test match, it’s a freebie, people can bring their kids. Everyone had a lot of fun.
“From a performance point of view, maybe it is something we can look to bring in.
"Ideally the goal is to get more teams in finals of Super Rugby, but even if there are two teams out they can put this type of thing together.”
Cheika played down his support by saying “I am not running that part of the show” but in truth, the head coach’s approval is the only one that truly counts given a Wallabies warm-up game with no Wallabies would be a fizzer.
Whether there is measurable gain from the Wallabies trial from a performance stand-point will only come during the Bledisloe Cup series but Cheika was impressed with the spirit and character shown by his squad in a trial that could have easily lacked intensity.
It didn’t, and that showed players wanting to hold onto a Wallabies spot were as motivated as those trying to take it off them.
“Guys have been working hard on what it means to play for Australia, and it is starting to sink into our guys heads how much of a honour it is,” Cheika said.
“It is an honour that many people don’t get, and I always say I am the best judge, because I never got to play in one.
“I am the best judge of how important it is, along with every other guy who toiled and never got to play in one.
“We have to stay on that and keep believing. There’s a lot of work to do before the first game.”
