Wallabies second rowers Will Skelton and Kane Douglas were sent to the sidelines on Wednesday by coach Michael Cheika after a heated and physical exchange as opponents in a driving maul after a lineout during training.
But while the unofficial yellow carding of the pair would be costly were it a game and earn Cheika's ire in the locker room afterwards, the Wallabies coach was brimming with delight behind them as they walked off.
The physicality of the Wallabies forwards at Kippax Oval at Moore Park this morning was just what Cheika was wanting of his two packs in the squad of 31 that leaves for their World Cup campaign in England on Saturday.
Just as happy as Cheika was set-piece coach, Argentinian Mario Ledesma, the former Pumas hooker who played in four World Cups.
Was the aggression showed on the training paddock asked of the players, or did it come naturally?
"No," Ledesma said. "That's something Cheika really likes, not only in the scrum sessions or the driving mauls, but every training is really intense.
"[There] is this change in mindset of the whole team and getting the forwards working harder. I think it is really a good thing.
"We won't be training like this the whole World Cup. We don't have any games on the weekend, so this is the time to do it."
The Wallabies depart from Sydney on Saturday for the US. They will play the Eagles in a one-off test match at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 5, before heading to England for the World Cup.
- Sydney Morning Herald
