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The overall ledger remains rather lopsided but Michael Cheika is riding something of a winning streak against old Randwick chum Eddie Jones.
Argentina’s 30-29 victory over England at Twickenham last year was Cheika’s first coaching triumph over Jones and contributed to the veteran’s sacking in December.
That set the wheels in motion for Jones’ unlikely return as Wallabies boss while the well travelled Cheika is now delivering fluent press conferences in Spanish with Los Pumas.
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Jones previously peeled off seven straight wins over Cheika’s Wallabies while coaching England but the latter is this week enjoying some off-field success.
Cheika managed to get in early and book his Pumas in at Coogee for Test week as Jones and the Wallabies instead bunk down and train over the bridge in Manly.
”I was very surprised actually that we got the green carpet to come down here,” Cheika told Stan Sport’s Justin Harrison at Coogee Oval.
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“So I don’t know. But mate, it’s nice to be here. It makes you feel at home while away.”
While Cheika and Jones have had their share of press conference blow-ups, the duo were mostly in reflective moods after naming their teams on Thursday.
There is plenty of serious work to do after big losses to open the Rugby Championship ahead of Saturday’s clash in Sydney.
NEW PODCAST: Special guest Nick Phipps helps the crew unpack an ugly Wallabies loss in Pretoria and work out how to put things right in Sydney against the Pumas
“I think he’s also concentrating on what he’s got to do for his team,” Cheika told reporters.
“I haven’t really spoken to him this week at all. I’ll probably see him after the game.
“Eddie’s a quality coach and I think that’s why Australia wanted to have him back because he can add a lot to the team here, and I’m sure he will. They’re just in construction like where we’re starting our season, too. He’s a high quality coach and you always want to go up against high quality coaches just to test yourself.”
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Cheika, who enjoyed a Thursday morning coffee and chat with Roosters coach Trent Robinson, brushed off the suggestion that he held current bragging rights over Jones.
“I wouldn’t say on the overall ledger that that’s the case mate,” he said.
“So I’m still hungry for a few more … the biggest thing with Eddie is he’s a competitor and he wants to win, you know, and I’m pretty much the same. So we come from the same place really.”
Cheika said he had now “dealt with” the emotions of coaching against Australia after it felt “raw” at first.
“I think they (Pumas players) were laughing at me because it felt weird, just to put the gear on. But now I feel very connected with this group of guys and I feel part of them,” he said.
“As much as I love being Australian – and I’m never going to not say that I love being Australian – I love these guys.”
Jones also allowed himself a trip down memory lane when asked about Cheika.
“I don’t want to come across too arrogant, but it’s fantastic, isn’t it, that you think in the international game, you’ve got two coaches coming out of the local competition in Sydney and it shows you the real value of club rugby,” Jones said.
“Australian rugby’s been based on club rugby and the more we can do to engender strong club rugby, the better.”
WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Jed Holloway, Will Skelton, Richie Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Dave Porecki, James Slipper (c)
Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Angus Bell, Pone Fa’amausili, Matt Philip, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Tate McDermott, Carter Gordon
PUMAS (15-1): Emiliano Boffelli, Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Santiago Grondona, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya (c), Thomas Gallo
Reserves: Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Eduardo Bello, Lucas Paulos, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Moroni
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