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Steve Hansen in under-fire Michael Cheika's corner
Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has the backing of All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen, despite growing calls for the former’s head.
The Wallabies have won just three of their last 11 test matches but Rugby Australia chairman Cameron Clyne firmly stated Cheika was still the best man to lead the team.
Hansen agrees with Clyne.
“It’s not for me to say what’s right for Australian rugby, but what I do know is that continuity has been proven over and over and over again to be a pretty good recipe,” he told media ahead of Saturday’s third Bledisloe test against the Wallabies.
“You look at Sir Alex Ferguson, he just about got sacked and went on to do the job [at Manchester United] for 30 years. He wasn’t too bad.
“[Jose] Mourinho is probably in a similar boat at the moment. They’re going to decide what they’re going to do with him because they’re not going as well as they’d like.
“I just think sometimes we pull the trigger too quickly on the coach and sometimes I guess it is warranted, but most of the time I don’t think it is.
“I think it’s a good thing they [Rugby Australia] have given the players a platform that’s secure because they know the coach is secure. Once that happens, people can get on and do what they have to do.”
The Wallabies’ horror run has seen them fall to a worst-ever seventh in the World Rankings, but Hansen still knows that anyone can be beaten on any given day.
“I don’t think it’s a reflection of how good they are. They can beat anybody,” he said.
“If things go well for them on the day, they can beat anyone, which is a good sign for world rugby – if your number seven side can do that, you’d expect the other teams between there and number one to be able to do the same.”
Hansen was also quick to remind press of the last time the two teams met in a third Bledisloe test. The result was Cheika’s first victory over the side.
“We love beating them and they love beating us,” Hansen said.
“Didn’t we lose this game last year? You don’t forget that.”
The All Blacks will take on Japan next weekend before embarking on their tour of England, Ireland and Italy.
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