Cheika: I love those blokes but I just love my blokes more

Michael Cheika still adores Johnny Sexton and the Leinster veterans he coached to a Heineken Cup victory in 2009 but the love-in with a player he calls “the maestro” will have to go on hold tomorrow as Australia attempt to close out their Test series with Ireland.

The Wallabies head coach named an unchanged matchday squad from the 23 who won the opening Test 18-9 in Brisbane last Saturday while opposite number Joe Schmidt has recalled a number of Leinster’s double winners for Ireland’s must-win game at AAMI Park, including fly-half Sexton.

Cheika, though, believes the inside track on players he coached but now faces works both ways.