Toner: Cheika will bring tough love to Aussies

When Devin Toner locks horns with the Australia pack on Saturday, he will have a very good idea of what their new head coach has been telling them during the build-up to the Wallabies’ clash with Ireland.

Toner, 28, has a lot to thank Michael Cheika for. He was the coach who gave the lock his Leinster debut in 2006, ensured he added physicality to his 6ft 10ins frame and who also applied the sort of tough love that has earned the respect of a now established Test forward.

Not that the kid from Castleknock College particularly enjoyed being on the end of Cheika’s double-barrel blasts.