Foley starred in the tight win over Wales at Millennium Stadium, finishing with an 18-point haul and his boot proving the difference in a five-point triumph. The biggest points tally of Foley's 15-Test career was made extra special by Prince William's presence in the Wallabies change rooms after the match.

Cheika is trying to instil renewed self-belief in the Wallabies after a month of turmoil off the field and is backing players to trust their on-field instincts without fear of failure. Foley took full advantage of that to take charge of the game with seven minutes remaining, silencing the Welsh crowd with a 25-metre drop goal. It was just the second of Foley's professional career and a move Cheika said wasn't in the team's playbook.

"You've just got to be smart and we were good in the first half … with drop goals I don't think [Cheika] minds if they go over," Foley said. "I recognised the situation and the opportunity … Will [Genia] knew I was back there and I just said, 'Let's do it now'. We played with composure and didn't lose our head … you're always confident with it. You'd like the game to be put to bed, it's always good to have a crack and not die wondering."

The Wallabies have won their first two games with Cheika in charge and have set their sights on leaving Europe unbeaten after the next three Tests. Foley continues to impress in the chief playmaker role as he battles with Quade Cooper for the Test five-eighth job.

The 25-year-old also kicked the Waratahs to their first Super Rugby title in August, slotting a long-range, last-minute penalty to secure a historic victory. "I never think we're going to lose ... [but] drop goals aren't in our playbook so that was totally Bernard sitting back and taking the shot, it was a good play and he thought there was something on, he took it and delivered," Cheika said.

Foley is unfazed by the pressure and has been tagged as the "Iceman" by commentators. "I think it was [former Wallaby] Nathan Sharpe who said the iceman, but it's definitely not a nickname," Foley said. "I think Iceman [in the movie Top Gun] dies, doesn't he? You want to be Maverick.

"I think I've only kicked one at Super Rugby level. There were a lot of smarts about that game, as well as hard work from the forwards to set that win up."

Wales and the Wallabies traded blows in a hectic first half, scoring three tries each to be locked at 21-21 at the break. But Wales strangled the Wallabies' star-studded back line out of the contest in the second half and Foley was left to kick all of Australia's second-half points.

Cheika admitted Australia's transition defence was a work in progress.

Wales coach Warren Gatland lamented two missed tackles and an intercept that led to the Wallabies' three tries. "There's plenty to improve on, we're two weeks into our system. Defensively, not just in attack. Playing attacking footy, sometimes you leave yourself open to the counterpunch," Cheika said. "One of the big work-ons for our team is transition [defence] ... you'll get a lot of moments where you almost feel unsatisfied, you can't score off all of [your opportunities]."

Australian skipper Michael Hooper said: "There's a lot to work on, but to come back at the end and fight our way out in the last couple of minutes shows we're in good shape. It always seems a close game when we come here … every team is going to throw something different against us and our focus is getting out what we want."

The Wallabies will play France in Paris on Saturday night (Sunday morning AEDT) before finishing their five-week tour against Ireland and England.