The man who gave Michael Cheika one of his biggest coaching breaks is sure the newly-appointed Wallabies mentor has what it takes to succeed at international level.
Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson says his Irish rugby club took a calculated risk in appointing Cheika head coach in 2005 when the Australian was still an unknown quantity internationally.
The gamble paid off handsomely as Cheika helped transform a soft side into European champions in the space of four seasons and Dawson isn't surprised to see his former colleague's career reach new heights.
"We (Leinster) had a reputation of being very talented but, I suppose, a bit flaky. We didn't really have that steel," Dawson told AAP.
"You could certainly see early on that Michael had the anger, the energy and the drive.
"He did drive the organisation and drove all of us hard, not only the players but the people who were in charge.
"That's what he was about and he had a clear vision of where he wanted to go and how he wanted to get there."
Cheika led Sydney grade side Randwick to a Shute Shield victory in 2004 before returning to Europe with Leinster after beginning his coaching career with a brief stint in Italy from 1999-2000.
"While we had the recommendation that he'd done very well at Randwick and felt good about him getting the job, because he was such an unknown quantity, it was a bit of a risk," Dawson said.
Cheika led the Irish club to the Heineken Cup semi-finals in his first year in charge and endured some challenging seasons before they won the European trophy in 2009.
Dawson believes Cheika's five-year stint in Ireland not only helped transform the club, but helped shape the Australian as a well-rounded coach who learned he couldn't survive on passion alone.
If his own experience is anything to go by, Dawson is certain Cheika will not only make improvements on the field for Australia but off it.
"Of that, there's no doubt," Dawson said.
"He might have mellowed a bit since he was here but certainly he kept us (officials) all on our toes.
"There was kind of awareness, or at least I was aware, that you wanted to make sure you got things right because you knew he was going to question you if they weren't.
"It's a different dynamic with a national team but he has a lot of traits that are required for that job. I think he can improve the team and I think he'll handle the off-field stuff well too."
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