Cheika blasts ABs, officials and media in post-game rant
Relations between the Wallabies and All Blacks appear to have hit an all-time low.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika let rip after suffering a third Bledisloe Cup defeat this season; the latest a 37-10 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park.
In another bizarre post match press conference rant, Cheika made it clear just how strained transTasman rugby ties have become.
Not for the first time this year he took aim at officials; the media and, finally, the All Blacks and the Sydney bugging incident.
‘‘I would say the thing that got me offside was the accusation that we tried to bug them.
‘‘Really? Hello? Honestly? They had that the whole week ... that lack of respect. I wouldn’t even be smart enough to get that stuff organised,’’ Cheika said.
‘‘I’m too busy working on my own team.
‘‘Yet they hold on to it and drop it on the day of the game. They don’t need to do that stuff. They’re too good anyway.
‘‘It’s only they want to do it to try and needle me or us.
‘‘I wouldn’t say it’s friendly. But then again you’re not supposed to be friendly with the opposition.
‘‘It’s not personal it’s just team against team.’’
Cheika was set off when asked to offer his view on the All Blacks setting the world record of 18 tests wins in a row against top tier opposition.
‘‘I don’t think they really want my comment,’’ he said.
‘‘They dressed us up as clowns today so they don’t respect our comment so we won’t make one anyway.’’
Cheika was referring to an illustration in an Auckland daily newspaper’s sports section which depicted the coach as a clown.
He seemingly failed to make the distinction between the media and the All Blacks.
‘‘It was on the front page of the paper, bro. They put our crest on it,’’ he said.
Wallabies captain Stephen Moore also took exception.
‘‘I don’t want to talk too much about it but when I think about the way the jersey is portrayed in that picture for everyone that’s pulled that on in the history of the Wallabies I think that’s pretty disrespectful,’’ he said. ‘‘But they won the game so they’re the ones laughing so what do you do?’’
Asked if the Wallabies would share a beer with the All Blacks, Cheika indicated it was highly unlikely.
‘‘We haven’t been invited.
‘‘We had a reception after the Wellington game so we did that there but we haven’t been invited.’’
Finally, Cheika was also frustrated with the ruling by TMO Shaun Veldsman to deny Henry Speight a second half try.
Referee Nigel Owens awarded the try but Veldsman told him they needed to review the footage.
Dane Haylett-Petty was then ruled to have changed his line and impeded Savea so the try was scrubbed out. Cheika could be seen spewing in the coaching box.
‘‘Obviously I can’t say anything because they’ve got you by the throat,’’ Cheika said. ‘‘I’ve just never seen shepherding from behind before.
‘‘Before any of that we need to own our mistakes. We turned the ball over far too much. We know New Zealand are very good on turnover and counter attack and we made a lot good play and then turned the ball over and allowed them to score.
‘‘We’ll see if World Rugby come out with an announcement or anything like that.’’
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said it was ‘‘rubbish’’ his side did not respect the Wallabies.
‘‘At what point is winning not respecting them?’’