Samu Kerevi has revealed the Wallabies stayed composed in their World Cup opener because they had simulated in training - with eerie precision - the on-field crisis points they faced against Fiji in Sapporo.
The Wallabies trailed 21-12 early in the second half after Fijian centre Waisea Nayacalevu picked up a loose pass from Kerevi and raced away to score.
Things looked grim but the Wallabies stayed calm, and went on to score five more tries to finish over the top of Fiji.
Speaking on Sunday ahead of the Wallabies traveling to Tokyo for their next game against Wales, Kerevi said the team did not panic and knew what they had to do next, largely because they’d simulated the runaway Fiji try scenario in “situational” training.
“We just had a lot of trust,” Kerevi said.
"The funny thing is the situations we got into on the field is what we talked about would happen in broken play. Especially my rubbish pass, Nayacalevu going the length of the field to score under the posts.
"We spoke bout those situations and we trusted in our systems and each other. That's probably the most pleasing thing.
"We knew Fiji could do those things, we knew Fiji could score a try from 100 metres away, we could make mistakes.
"We're never going to play a perfect game, things are going to happen, those times we had to really stay connected, trust in what we've been training for months on end.
"Dean Benton's got us into the best physical shape we can [be in] for this World Cup and trust in our system and trust in each other is the biggest thing."
The Wallabies were nursing plenty of bumps and bruises after the highly physical clash, but there was plenty of positivity too after prevailing in a very tough encounter.
While it was heart-in-mouth stuff for Wallabies fans, Kerevi said the game had provided the team with an excellent base for the rest of the tournament. They’d survived the Fijian typhoon and had a very good systems check, as far as fitness and mental resilience goes, too.
"It's put us in real good stead. Our back was against the wall there but making sure we weren't putting the pressure in our heads,” Kerevi said.
"You can't take anything away from Fiji, they played outstanding. I know they've been preparing really well for these game.”
The impact of the bench was critical for the Wallabies and Kerevi revealed the dressing room messaging of coach Michael Cheika, who places huge importance on the “finishers”.
“I thought the finishers did their job. Cheik always harps on about them being the ones to win the game for us,” he said.
“But even the starters played really well, the forward pack did their job at set piece, the back line we were just trying to do our bit.
"It was an awesome squad effort, not just the guys on the field but the guys that prepared us through the week, really pushed us and engaged us, so it was awesome."
The Wallabies’ attention now turns to Wales and a clash at Tokyo Stadium on Sunday.
Under Warren Gatland, Wales have enjoyed a very successful year, winning the Six Nations and totting up 14 victories in a row along the way. They even took over as world no.1s briefly last month.
But Australia will still go in with confidence, after enjoying a good record against the Welsh in recent years; winning 13 straight games until a loss last year.
Even with the Wallabies in the doldrums in 2018, they only lost the game 9-6 in Cardiff.
Kerevi said the Welsh had developed a strong unity of purpose in the last few seasons.
"I think just their combinations throughout the team as well. Much as their defensive piece and attack, they’re a team that stays in the fight,” Kerevi said.
"You’ve seen that they’ve been number one some times this year and for us it is the same thing that we want to keep building in our team, keep trusting what we have built this last couple of months and all the adversity we have come through to be here now.”
The Wallabies take on Wales on Sunday September 29, kicking off at 4:45pm local, 5:45pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Network Ten and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.
