The only player to play all possible 560 minutes at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Ashley-Cooper didn't miss a single game of the Waratahs' glorious 18-match campaign in 2014 either.
Cheika, though, said it's not just the on-field contributions that make the indestructible centre and vice-captain a hero at the Waratahs.
"There's one word of describing that guy on and off the field and that's class," Cheika said.
"Every week he delivers and I'm not using that as a big, sweeping statement. He delivers every week consistently, the same quality, sometimes a little bit better than his normal - but his normal's very, very good.
"Off the field, last year he stepped up into a leadership role that he probably hasn't had before and he's flourished in it.
"He's really used the little grey flicks in his hair to his advantage. He's swanned and charmed all the younger players.
"He's got them looking up to him because he delivers and that's what talks in the end."
Ashley-Cooper took 12 painstaking hours and several rewrites to produce his motivational masterpiece on Wednesday.
He said the idea came from stand-in captain Michael Hooper's decision last month to ask a senior statesman of the team to deliver a weekly speech.
"It was my turn and I just felt like I needed to add something different," Ashley-Cooper said.
"The culture that I've learned over the last 12 months isn't something that is given; it's created and I'd like to believe that I was a little creative in my approach and added something special."
Watch: Rugby Highlights: Waratahs 33 Crusaders 32
In a team of heroes across the park, No8 Wycliff Palu was a mighty metre-eater throughout the gripping final despite spending time in the head bin, fellow enforcer Jacques Potgieter was also immense and Hooper completed the triumphant campaign as the only Waratah to play out the 80 minutes in all 18 matches.
Flanker Stephen Hoiles provided the fairytale after being told he'd never play again, winger Rob Horne was superb, fullback Israel Folau typically threatening, centre Kurtley Beale offered the finesse and five-eighth Bernard Foley proved the match-winner with his last-gasp 44m penalty goal.
But Cheika couldn't praise halfback Nick Phipps - whose late try-saving cover tackle on Crusaders winger Nemani Nadolo proved a snapshot of his outstanding season - enough for his courage and commitment.
"He ran himself empty," Cheika said. "That's the true test of a quality player.
"He wanted to [finish the game] but he couldn't get there any more.
"Because we were playing side to side and then he was defending side to side, he was racking up some run metres. Off the ball, they were pretty crazy.
"He's like the fittest guy in the team - sorry 'Hoops' - but even he ran himself out and that's what I love to see from the players."
- AAP
