Bernard Foley signs on for World Cup assault, declares Wallabies can win tournament

AFTER signing on for Australia’s Tokyo assault, Bernard Foley declared he is more confident of winning next year’s World Cup than he was in 2015 when the Wallabies made the final.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 25: Bernard Foley of the Wallabies makes a break during The Rugby Championship game between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australia Wallabies at Eden Park on August 25, 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

• Wallabies to wear ‘special’ jersey at Twickenham
• Cheika not keen to make wholesale changes

BERNARD Foley declared he is more confident of winning next year’s World Cup than he was in 2015 when the Wallabies made the final.

Australia has since sunk to seventh in the world rankings but Foley, who has re-signed with the Wallabies and Waratahs until the end of 2019, says the team can produce a similar turnaround to the previous tournament when they unexpectedly reached the decider before losing to the All Blacks.

Coach Michael Cheika took over for the 2014 spring tour with the Wallabies in crisis after Ewen McKenzie sensationally resigned, and Australia won their pool against England and Wales, before defeating Scotland and Argentina in the playoffs.

Bernard Foley has had an up-and-down season, being dropped from the Wallabies’ starting No.10 role. Picture: AFP

MORE NEWS

INSPIRING: Beale wants indigenous jersey at RWC

YOUNG GUN: Freakish teen eyes Wallabies debut

TOUGH CALLS: Cheika job safe, but staff future on the line

BATTLE: Clark’s bold Waratahs gamble

“I think having that experience is very comforting, 12 months out from the World Cup last time I didn’t have that belief at all but now I’ve got that belief,” Foley said.

“I’m more than confident that we can go one better than we did last time with the players that we’ve got and the programs we’re setting up and the coaches we’ve got putting it all in place, that we can be where we need to be to win the World Cup.”

Under-pressure coach Cheika must present his World Cup plans to the Rugby Australia board, who have grave concerns about the team’s plummeting performances with eight defeats in their past 11 Tests.

But given Cheika presents to the board on Friday, and the Wallabies fly overseas on Saturday for six weeks, little is expected to change.

Foley is expected to take up a deal in Japan after next year’s World Cup. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

“The board will want a clear outline as to how Cheika will arrest the slide in the eight or nine games before the World Cup, but it’s now too late to introduce new coaching personnel before the tour.

Foley said Australia’s last performance, a stunning 45-34 win in Argentina after trailing 31-7, could be the catalyst for World Cup glory in Japan.

“Everyone knows how good we can be now, it’s been seen,” Foley said.

“We need to approach every game like that second half. We’ve shown we can do it, now we need to do it every single game.”

Foley, 29, did not rule out extending his contract with RA after the World Cup but it’s understood he’s leaning towards a lucrative contract in Japan’s Top League.

The playmaker was dropped to the bench for the first time by Cheika during the Rugby Championship for games against South Africa and Argentina, but reinstated for the previous Test.

Get the National Rugby Championship LIVE in your living room. SIGN UP TODAY!