Rugby: Cheika stays realistic about chances of toppling old foe

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Photo / Getty Images

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika insists he's nowhere near reaching any mountain tops, but the rugby fan in him is looking forward to his first crack at conquering the code's equivalent of Everest.

Cheika will coach against the world champion All Blacks for the first time on Saturday in the Rugby Championship decider at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

Some sceptics might suggest climbing Everest would be an easier gig and certainly quicker than waiting for a Wallabies win over the All Blacks, something which last happened four years ago.

Failure to win on Saturday would mean Australia equals their longest ever winless streak of 11 matches against one nation, though that previous run against New Zealand spanned 11 years from 1967-78.

With the World Cup just over six weeks away, Cheika will get the best possible gauge of the Wallabies progress under his charge with matches against New Zealand on successive Saturdays in Sydney and Auckland.

Cheika, who has a 3-3 record since taking over last October, is enthusiastic but realistic about the task of toppling the old transtasman foe.

"I've only just started, I'm nowhere near reaching any type of mountain tops," Cheika said. "Obviously by their number one ranking, there's no one more serious than New Zealand.

"I suppose the rugby fan in me is really looking forward to it and as the coach I'll follow that, I'm looking forward to the contest."

He suggested Australia would look to execute established parts of their game better while also trying the odd new trick.

Prop James Slipper felt Australia's much scrutinised scrum could get parity against the All Blacks and was still developing under recently appointed set piece coach Mario Ledesma. He was confident it would be where it needed to be by the time of the World Cup.

- AAP