If Australia does go on to win the World Cup, Michael Cheika will receive a great amount of credit for turning around Australia’s fortunes in such a short space of time.

With the help of assistants Stephen Larkham and Nathan Grey, Cheika has brought the Australian team together and created an identity that an entire nation can be proud of.

Regardless of what happens over the next fortnight, it’s been a tremendous effort.

But he hasn’t done this all on his own. In fact, arguably the most important piece of Australia’s World Cup puzzle has been an Argentinian bloke named Mario.

The scrum guru was recruited to rescue the Wallabies set piece and prepare them for the ‘pool of death’. Looking back, it could be the best thing Michael Cheika has ever done.

But who is Mario Ledesma and what does he have that his predecessors didn’t?

Born in Buenos Aires in 1973, Ledesma made his international debut in 1996 against Uruguay and within two years had captained his country.

In 2001, he joined French club Narbonne before moving to Castres in 2003 and finally Clermont in 2005 where he earned 179 caps.

He represented Argentina 84 times, including four World Cups, and was part of Los Pumas historic first ever victory over the Wallabies in 1997 – a side that went on to win the World Cup two years later.

After retiring at the end of 2011, Ledesma joined Stade Francais where he coached under Michael Cheika for the first time and as they say in France, “Le Bromance’ began.

Cheika then recruited Ledesma as a ‘coaching observer’ at the Waratahs at the beginning of 2015 and added him to the Wallabies coaching staff in the lead up to the World Cup.

So how has Ledesma turned the Wallabies scrum around so quickly?

According to those inside the Australian camp, it comes down to one thing.

Passion!

Ledesma lives and breathes scrums and it’s rubbed off on those around him.

“He’s tough at training but he’s very passionate about what he does and it really rubs off onto everyone,” Wallabies prop Scott Sio said.

“Everyone really enjoys coming in for scrum sessions. In the past, people looked at scrums and thought ‘oh no, scrum sessions’ but we really enjoy it. He’s brought a great vibe to the unit session as a whole and everyone’s buying into it.

The 42-year old coach reportedly gets so involved in his sessions that he’s been seen lying on his back underneath the scrum to get a better look at what’s happening.

“He’s made us understand that attitude is half the battle out there. As strong as you can be and however great your technique is, if you’re not prepared to get on top of your opposition you’ve already lost half the battle.

“We’ve had some very heated sessions during the week and that’s what you need going into these big games.”

Arguably Australia’s toughest set piece challenge comes this weekend against Ledesma’s home nation. Whilst Los Pumas showed plenty of flair to score four tries in their victory over Ireland, they’re still expected to target Australia up front.

Michael Cheika told the media he’s given Ledesma permission to sing the Argentinian anthem before the match, but knows he’ll give the Wallabies “120 per cent.”

In fact, if Australia does survive, Ledesma will probably be the reason why.