Wallabies embrace Newcastle and the hard yakka

Michael Cheika told his players it was coming - and that's exactly what happened this past week in Newcastle as the Wallabies ramped up preparations for the Bledisloe Cup encounter on August 19.

Cheika said his players were not fit enough to play the style of game that he wanted them to play and over the past couple of weeks the physical intensity has been increased in the training groups around the country.

But Newcastle was the first real coming together of the wider squad and the S&C coaches, led by Haydn Masters, didn't hold back.

The running volumes were increased significantly and the intensity turned up.

Samu Kerevi, who has just come back into the squad after sitting out the June Series with  low-grade ankle syndesmosis injury, said it was a tough week both physically and mentally.

"It was definitely a tough week," Kerevi said.

"It was my first week back with the group this year but we've really enjoyed it and enjoyed the people of Newcastle coming out and watching us train.

"There was lots of hills and lots of physical stuff and it really took a lot out of the boys but we mixed things up physically and mentally, stuck at it and the group has really come together.

"It was massive the that the people of Newcastle, lots of kids and families and supported us particuarly with the way that the year has gone."