24 Oct 2016

Cheika still seething as Hansen offers olive branch

1:54 pm on 24 October 2016

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has called for a ceasefire in verbal warfare with Wallabies counterpart Michael Cheika which has plunged trans-Tasman rugby relations to an all-time low.

But Cheika hasn't backed down, after Hansen accused him of "hijacking" New Zealand's Test world-record celebrations.

After Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup series finale in Auckland, Cheika took aim at New Zealand media over being depicted as a clown in the New Zealand Herald newspaper, and then claimed the All Blacks did not respect the Wallabies, suggesting they were involved in the caricature.

Hansen hit back at a "sulking" Cheika and said he needed to be bigger than to take a newspaper's barb to heart and that it was wrong to suggest the All Blacks could dictate what the media did.

All Black coach Steve Hansen

All Black coach Steve Hansen Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer

But on Sunday Hansen softened his stance and extended an olive branch to Cheika for what he said was the good of rugby in Australasia.

"For a long time the relationship with Australia has probably been a little frosty and maybe we need to sit down and have a beer together and sort it out," Hansen told Australian reporters, describing the Wallabies as a "formidable opponent" and important ally.

"But I think some of it comes down to the fact that the Bledisloe Cup means so much to both teams and when one team's having a dominant period like we're at the moment, the other team really gets frustrated."

Hansen said he had empathy for Cheika.

"I lost 10 Tests in a row with Wales and it was tough. Of course you get hurt by it," he said.

"It's how you deal with the adversity that's important."

Whether or not Cheika buries the hatchet remains to be seen.

Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika after the Bledisloe Cup defeat by the All  Blacks at Eden Park.

Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika after the Bledisloe Cup defeat by the All Blacks at Eden Park. Photo: Photosport

He was still stewing upon his arrival back at Sydney airport on Sunday.

"Why would you let the opposition call your team clowns and mock the jersey? That's how I feel about it," he said.

"Maybe others don't. Maybe that's not the way. But I've never had an Australian jersey so I think it's something that should be treasured.

"We're going there for a good contest and I think they (All Blacks) are connected to it (the photo mock up) obviously because they are talking about it.

"That's my opinion and I'm entitled to voice my opinion, right or wrong."

Cheika admitted the Sydney bugging saga had been the spark that set him off, saying he was deeply offended by any inference the Wallabies camp could have been involved in the spying scandal.

He remains furious the bugging report came out in the NZ Herald on the day of the first Bledisloe Test match in Sydney, after All Blacks management had alerted police about finding an electronic listening device in a team room early in the week.

"We had policemen in our offices asking us questions, asking our management questions. That's serious stuff to be accusing people of and it's not true," he said.

"That's their go-to (newspaper). Nothing happens without that connection.

"That's my point of view. They don't have to agree with it. I'm not asking them to agree with it."

- AAP