Wallabies are 'winners' off the field
Australia may have recorded a paltry one win from four starts on the year-end tour, but they believe they are winners – off the field.
Recalled Wallaby playmaker Quade Cooper credited an inspirational speech from new coach Michael Cheika for helping the team rediscover their identity heading into this year's World Cup campaign.
Cooper told The Daily Telegraph Cheika challenged the side to unite in his first meeting while on their recent tour of Europe.
The Wallabies have long been criticised for lack of team harmony, but Cooper insists this is no longer an issue thanks to their mentor's motivating words.
"The first thing Cheika did was get the whole squad in together really tight so that we would be able to withstand anything thrown at us," Cooper said.
"So whether we are winning or losing, we can maintain our identity and build an identity.
"That's what Cheika told us from day one in the very first meeting with us.
"It was something that everybody took on board, but it wasn't until we started to put it into action that we truly understood it.
"So how we travelled and how everyone was hands on trying to make everyone else's life a little bit easier.''
The Kurtley Beale saga cast a giant shadow over Australian rugby in the final months of the year, but Cooper said the team now has a new perspective.
"If you can take a bit of pressure off a teammate off the field, then you'll start to think the same way on the on the field as well,'' Cooper The Daily Telegraph.
"I think that was the most important thing that I learnt out of the tour.
"This team needs to build an identity so that Australian public look at the Wallabies and say, 'oh that's how they play'.
"It's now up to us to uphold that standard for no matter how long you play for the Wallabies, whether it be one game or you're there for 10 years."
Cheika also wants the Wallabies to have a clear playing style and identity.
"That was a message that made me chuffed and proud to be a part of the team.
"The tour was good to be a part of in that I got to see the team improve, especially with the cultural side of things.
"That's something that we put a lot of emphasis on."
Source: News Corp Australia
