No panic for Cheika's Wallabies

Australia coach Michael Cheika insisted there would be "no panic" in the Wallaby camp after they ended 2014 with defeat by England at Twickenham.

Saturday's reverse meant Australia had endured their worst European tour since 2005 when they also lost three out of four Tests.

The Wallabies defeated the Barbarians and Wales on this trip but Saturday saw them beaten for the third successive match after narrow defeats by France (29-26) and Ireland (26-23).

England, not for the first time, dominated Australia at the scrum less than a year out from the teams' World Cup pool clash at Twickenham, with Wales also in the same group.

But Cheika, parachuted into the role of Australia coach shortly before the team left for Europe following the shock resignation of Ewen McKenzie, insisted the two-time world champions could turn things around before their next attempt to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy.

"It's a pattern I've seen when changing the shape of the team," said Cheika, who made his name in Europe as coach of Irish team Leinster.

"The team probably just doesn't believe in itself enough. I definitely believe in the way it's headed. There's not going to be any panic at our end."

He added: "I am learning on the job and it's been a great learning experience.

"I've got to know the players. Two-thirds of the squad I had never met before," the Waratahs boss explained.

"I've also seen the positives and the negatives of the environment and what needs to be changed as well."

Reflecting on Saturday's match, Cheika said: "The first half was poor. We just didn't get our game to flow around the ruck and couldn't get clean ruck ball.

"The second half when we changed that, we were able to get cleaner ruck ball and had some really good moments in attack.

"If we could have passed a bit better, we would have been in front with five or six minutes to go because Rob Horne (on the receiving end of a poor ball from Israel Folau) had only to walk a few metres and he was going over to score."

Wallaby skipper Michael Hooper lamented how his side had been 13-3 behind at half-time.

"It sucks," he said of the mood in Australia's dressing room after the match.

"To have that felling, knowing we got close, is really disappointing. There are multiple opportunities we left out there.

"We can't put ourselves in a position every week where we don't start well and then have to try to catch up," the openside flank added.

"It would be nice to start a game and maintain a lead. That's what we are going to have to start getting better at."

For Hooper too the last few months have been challenging after the 23-year-old was handed the Australia captaincy by McKenzie in June following the season-ending injury to Stephen Moore.

"It's been a massive learning curve but an enjoyable one," Hooper said.

"There have been new challenges, different set-ups with staff, but I am happy as a leadership group how we've handled things this year."

AFP