Cheika, Hansen at odds

Michael Cheika has fired back at claims from Steve Hansen that the Wallabies disrespected Sam Whitelock by snubbing the presentation of his 100th All Blacks cap last weekend

At the All Blacks’ press conference yesterday, Hansen was asked about only a few of the Wallabies players going over to Whitelock’s on-field presentation after the test had finished.

Hansen chose his words carefully, bearing in mind the tenuous state of the feeling between the two sides on the back of an unprecedented period of All Blacks dominance.

‘‘It’s not for me to comment on what their policy is, you need to ask them what that is,’’ said Hansen of any decision to acknowledge these special ceremonies as a team.

‘‘I know if it was us we’d stay out and acknowledge it.

‘‘I think it’s a tremendous feat to play 100 test matches, it doesn’t matter what country it is.

‘‘There’s a lot of energy, a lot of mental fortitude, a lot of time, and a lot of sacrifices by the players’ family to get to that point. It’s worthy of respecting it.’’

However, when Cheika was asked about it a couple of hours later at the Wallabies’ hotel on Waiheke Island, he stood up for his players and said they were unaware of any ceremony for Whitelock.

‘‘I’ve never seen it before,’’ Cheika said. ‘‘We certainly wouldn’t be asking to do it on another team’s ground. We do it in the dressing room, but if that’s what they want to do, I’m sure they did.

‘‘Congratulations to the player, he’s a fine player. One hundred caps is a really great effort and same to the lad [Owen Franks] who’s grabbing it this week as well.

‘‘There’s always respect there, and to say that we lack respect is a little bit of a stretch from Steve Hansen.’’