Michael Cheika

Rugby World Cup finalists the Wallabies must improve rather than hope the All Blacks drop their lofty standards if they are to overhaul the triple champions, coach Michael Cheika said.

The Australians arrived home during the morning after losing 17 / 34 to the All Blacks in last weekend’s final at Twickenham Stadium.

While the Wallabies have regained respect and more followers in their own country after their Rugby World Cup exploits, Cheika warned his team had to do better if they are to reach the summit of world rugby.

The All Blacks became the 1st team to win 3 Rugby World Cups, but face a breakup with a string of international retirements headed by World Player of the Year Dan Carter along with Test centurions Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock and Ma’a Nonu as well as centre Conrad Smith.

Skipper Richie McCaw, rated by coach Steve Hansen as the greatest All Black, is also undecided about his playing future.

“Our goal is to improve, not to be waiting for other teams to go worse because of this or that reason,” Cheika told reporters at Sydney airport.

“I don’t think they will get worse, they’ve got so much depth over there.

“I think they will only improve as well.”

Cheika said beating England in next year’s 3-Test home series would be his next objective rather than looking to end the 13-year Bledisloe Cup drought against New Zealand.

He was non-committal about whether he would complete a full 4-year term after having been named world rugby’s Coach of the Year after just 12 months in the job.

“I’m in to 2017 and for me it’s irrelevant whether I’m on to 2019 or 2017, or 2016, I want to do the best so the team is in the right position to keep getting better in the future,” Cheika said.

Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver said Cheika had done a remarkable job but there was no urgency to extend his contract given he was already locked in for the next 2 years.

(rugby365)

Israel Folau stays with ARU for 3 more years:

Israel Folau

Australia fullback Israel Folau rates the Rugby World Cup as the highlight of his varied career and has reiterated that he will be staying in the 15-man code for at least another 3 years.

The Wallabies touched down in Australia on Wednesday morning, 3 days after their impressive Rugby World Cup campaign ended in a 34 / 17 defeat to the All Blacks in the final at Twickenham Stadium.

Folau, a former rugby league international, was not on top form in the latter Rounds of the tournament because of an ankle injury but said the overall experience had been outstanding.

“Being part of a World Cup on an international level, it doesn’t get any higher than that, so for me it’s got to be at the top of my list,” Folau told reporters at Sydney airport.

The 26-year-old’s path to union from league via 2 years in Australian Rules football means he is regularly the subject of local media speculation about his future and the last week has been no exception.

“For me, these reports have been a bit frustrating because I’ve only just signed a 3-year contract extension with… the Australian Rugby Union, and that deal hasn’t even started yet,” he wrote in a column on the Fox Sports website.

“For the record, I’ll be here giving my all until the end of 2018 at the very least, and I couldn’t be happier.”

(Sport24)