Rugby World Cup Final: Cheika rebuild deserving of global success
Michael Cheika is looking to complete a remarkable turnaround by leading Australia to the Rugby World Cup title against New Zealand.
Australia's transformation from a team in disarray to one standing on the brink of Rugby World Cup glory is nothing short of remarkable - and Michael Cheika must take most of the credit.
The turmoil that led to predecessor Ewen McKenzie's exit 12 months ago threatened to derail the Wallabies' World Cup preparations, but Cheika has expertly steadied the ship and guided his squad to a final showdown with New Zealand on Saturday.
It was on the morning of a clash with the All Blacks in October last year that McKenzie handed in his resignation, bringing the curtain down on his brief stint in the Australia hot seat following a turbulent couple of months.
The public fall-out from Kurtley Beale's offensive text messages referring to team manager Di Patston - and the in-flight argument between the pair that followed - sent McKenzie careering towards the exit door.
The former Queensland Reds boss was even forced to fend off allegations of an affair with Patston at one stage and his decision to call it a day following the final match of the 2014 Bledisloe Cup, which Australia lost 2-0 following a heartbreaking 29-28 defeat in the third Test, came as little surprise.
McKenzie ditched rugby completely to head a construction project in New Zealand, but the rebuilding job faced by Cheika - appointed to the role little more than a week before the Wallabies kicked off their European tour - was arguably just as big.
Following the disappointment of a third consecutive third-place finish in the Rugby Championship, Cheika, who was juggling his responsibilities with an existing coaching job at the Waratahs, initially found his team low on confidence.
Despite opening with victories over the Barbarians and Wales, Australia embarked on a three-match losing run against France, Ireland and England.
Cheika had eight months to mull over his Rugby Championship and World Cup campaigns after returning to Australia, installing hooker Stephen Moore as captain in July, with Michael Hooper and Adam Ashley-Cooper as his deputies.
The Wallabies returned for the 2015 Rugby Championship with renewed belief and picked up their first title in the competition since 2011, beating the All Blacks along the way.
Despite suffering defeat in the second of two Bledisloe Cup matches before heading to England for the World Cup, Cheika did not allow morale to drop - his decision to allow Wallabies legends to deliver news of squad selection to his players going down particularly well.
The move to reform Australia's eligibility rules should not be overlooked either, with Matt Giteau returning to the international fold to play a key part in the World Cup, where the Wallabies navigated the 'Group of Death' with impressive victories over hosts England and Wales.
An element of fortune saw Australia eliminate Scotland at the quarter-final stage before seeing off Argentina to deservedly book their place in the final.
With the likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Ma'a Nonu set to retire after the tournament, few are betting against New Zealand becoming the first side to defend a World Cup crown.
But Cheika is a winner, having already claimed trophies in The Rugby Championship, Super Rugby and the Heineken Cup, so a third title for Australia is certainly not out of the question.
And, on the morning of the latest October clash between Australia and the All Blacks, the exit door will be the last thing on the coach's mind.