Ali helped Wallabies: Cheika

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has paid tribute to Muhammad Ali, saying the boxing great's powerful aura and motivational quotes have helped shape his team's identity.

Ali died on Friday at age 74, following a three-decades long battle with Parkinson's disease.

They might be a world away in Brisbane, preparing for the series opening Test against England on Saturday night, but Ali's death struck a chord with the Wallabies.

Cheika revealed on Monday he'd utilised some of Ali's inspiration as he went about rebuilding the Wallabies from a team in disarray when he took over in 2014 to World Cup finalists.

"I know we're a long way away, but we'd like to let his family know our thoughts are well and truly with them, and I'll tell you why," Cheika said.

"We, like many sporting teams around the world, have used that man as inspiration - motivational videos, posters that go up on the wall, in phrases or sayings he's used.

"We've been able to use a part of his aura to help us build our own personalities.

"We should pay respect to that, even though we don't know the man, we only know him from his boxing and his stature.

"We've used his life or what he's done to help inspire us. May he rest in peace and all the best to his family."