Cheika: All Blacks are 鈥榣ong way鈥 ahead
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Australia coach Michael Cheika has moved quickly to dampen expectations of a long-awaited upset of the All Blacks, saying the world champions are well in front of the chasing pack.
Australia will take on New Zealand in a title-decider for the abridged Rugby Championship in Sydney on August 8 after a dominant 34-9 win over Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday.
The All Blacks needed a late try from Richie McCaw to prevail 27-20 against South Africa earlier in the day, but they will also head in to the tournament finale full of confidence after edging the high-quality contest at Auckland鈥檚 Ellis Park.
Australia is in contention for its first southern hemisphere silverware in four years, its last victory over the All Blacks sealing a truncated Tri-Nations competition in the lead-up to the 2011 World Cup.
鈥淭his year it鈥檚 a little bit closer, but it鈥檚 very obvious that New Zealand are the best team in the world, and I mean by a long way at this stage,鈥 Cheika told Australian media in Mendoza.
鈥淭o beat South Africa like they did, I think they did it pretty easy in the end.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been so consistent over so many years, so just having a couple of wins in the Rugby Championship, you鈥檙e not going to guarantee anything,鈥 he added.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to work really hard over the next couple of weeks, plan well and really make sure that we run out at ANZ Stadium in a couple of weeks鈥 time we鈥檙e ready to make Australian rugby people proud of how we play. I don鈥檛 know how that will end up, but I know we鈥檒l be ready to do that bit at least.鈥
Australia scored two late tries to blow out the margin in Mendoza and flatter a scrappy performance marked by scrum wobbles, ill-discipline and wayward goal-kicking by flyhalf Bernard Foley.
On the positive side, David Pocock was a shining light in his first start at openside flanker in more than two years.
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