Michael Cheika won't waste his breath defending the Wallabies because he hopes they do the convincing themselves on the field this weekend.
Wobbling at a record-low No.7 in the world, Australia have won just two of their last nine Tests and must start showing more with the World Cup less than a year away.
A last-start loss to Argentina on the Gold Coast was another kick in the guts for Cheika's men, with fans' dismay turning physical when one disgruntled supporter locked horns with Lukhan Tui after the game.
The task in South Africa - where the Wallabies haven't won since 2011 - shapes as a daunting one against a side fresh from beating the All Blacks in New Zealand.
But Cheika and the squad have cut relaxed figures all week in Port Elizabeth and at 1.05am Sunday morning (AEST) he thinks they can win a few disgruntled fans back.
"The people that will get up and watch the game, they're the people we want to do well for in the first instance and then we want to do really well for the people that won't be up watching it so they'll come back," he said.
"No message; talk's cheap, it's on the field where it's going to happen."
Cheika's job appears safe despite the side's inconsistencies and the man himself has promised to hold his nerve as not bow to external criticism as they try to unlock their potential ahead of Japan's showpiece next year.
But he knows the noise won't go away until that happens.
"I can make all the messages I like but I'm not a politician, I'm a rugby coach," he said.
"The politicking's done on the field and it hasn't been going fantastic, I get it, it's been tough.
"But play good footy, make them proud and there will be none of that chat."
Cheika will persevere with Kurtley Beale and Matt Toomua as playmakers at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and is encouraging them to operate on instinct against a defence he is confident of cracking.
However, the Wallabies have been dealt another late injury blow, with first-choice hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau withdrawn before Friday's captain's run with a hamstring strain he picked up on Thursday.
He will be replaced by Folau Fainga'a, who earns his first Test start, while fellow greenhorn Brandon Paenga-Amosa joins the reserves.
Share
