Wales 28-33 Australia
Cheika plays down World Cup impact of beating Wales
ESPN Staff
November 8, 2014
Israel Folau scored two first-half tries - including a length of the field interception - against Wales © Getty Images
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Australia coach Michael Cheika said his side's victory over Wales in Cardiff would have no impact on their World Cup collision against the same opposition in 11 months' time.

A drop goal and a penalty from Bernard Foley ensured Australia emerged 33-28 victors on Saturday, their 10th consecutive win over the Welsh, who they meet again at the group stage of the World Cup in 2015.

But Cheika dismissed any notion of his side's late comeback win laying a marker for that rematch.

"I've never seen one game have an impact on another one so far away," he said. "But the way we prepare, I like to think in tight games it will always go our way.

"The Welsh are a good team and it always seems to come down to the wire, so it was nice to come out on top against a quality team."

Cheika paid tribute to Foley, whose 18-point haul included a well-taken drop goal which the coach admitted was not the traditional Australian way of doing things.

"We don't practice drop goals so Bernard sitting back and taking it was good play - and he delivered," Cheika said.

"The performance wasn't perfect but we created some good situations and I thought the forwards carried the ball quite well, especially the replacement forwards who got us into good field positions at the end.

"Trust comes when you do things more and more often. Hopefully we can build on that this trip and at the same time grab a win here and there."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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