Cheika is feeling the heat
aUStraLia coach Michael Cheika rounded angrily on reporters who asked if he was considering his future after the all Blacks blew the Wallabies away 40-12 in auckland yesterday, a week after their 38-13 Sydney win.
Kiwi out-half Beauden Barrett was in sensational form, crossing for four tries as new Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup in style to put Cheika in the firing line.
‘i don’t know who is making the suggestions [that his job is under threat],’ said the 51year-old ex-Leinster coach, rounding on a reporter who asked would he consider walking away.
‘there is no debate, you wouldn’t know, you’ve never coached anyone. i don’t know where you come off saying that. if you think there is a debate going on in your own mind then you need to get some pills to sort it out, because there ain’t no debate going on in my mind.’
Cheika has a break now until facing South africa in the third round of the rugby Championship at Brisbane on September 8.
at a rather happier new Zealand press conference, coach Steve Hansen heaped praise on Barrett who had been under pressure going into the Championship due to the superior form of richie Mo’unga, the Crusaders 10.
‘that’s the type of player he is,’ Hansen said of Barrett’s performance. ‘We didn’t lose any faith in him.’
Barrett’s four tries are an all Blacks record in a match against australia.
‘When you hang out on the wing that’s what can happen,’ Barrett said with a grin, downplaying the fact his first try had come from running a superb angle close to the breakdown and third by spotting a gap at halfway and accelerating through it.
‘it was a good test and was hard work in the first half,’ Barrett added.
‘i don’t know what the score was but it was good fun.’