Wallabies coach relishing ‘open’ Rugby WC

TOKYO: Australia’s under-fire coach Michael Cheika insisted Wednesday that the Wallabies will come out firing at this year’s Rugby World Cup, despite a wretched year of results.

The two-time champions won just four of 13 Tests last year, but Cheika -- who led Australia to the 2015 final -- once again shrugged off criticism. “We will be in good shape when we need to be,” he said at the Australian embassy in Tokyo.

“It’s going to be an open World Cup for sure -- not just because of how the teams have performed leading up to here, but also because it’s in Japan. “It’s going to be very different, a different atmosphere at the games,” added Cheika, whose side have slipped to sixth in the world since he steered them to 2015 World Cup final.