Michael Cheika planning one final surprise

The odds are stacked against Australia as they head into Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final with arch rivals New Zealand, but coach Michael Cheika is refusing to contemplate defeat.

Australia set up their first final meeting with the All Blacks at Twickenham this weekend with a thrilling 29-15 defeat of Argentina in Sunday’s second semi-final, but despite having been the most recent of only three teams to have beaten the defending champions since Richie McCaw lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Auckland four years ago, Cheika knows his side is up against it.

Bookmakers have his Wallabies as 12/5 outsiders against odds-on New Zealand and, though Cheika engineered August’s Rugby Championship-sealing victory over Steve Hansen’s team, it is the following week’s Bledisloe Cup pounding they endured that is just as fresh in the mind.