Australian coach Michael Cheika is under no illusion as to who the best team in world rugby is ahead of the Wallabies upcoming Rugby Championship decider in Sydney.
He labeled defending world champions New Zealand as “the best team in the world” after their come from behind win against South Africa in Johannesburg yesterday.
After back-to-back wins against South Africa and Argentina, the Wallabies sit atop of the Rugby Championship table on nine points, leading their Trans-Tasman rivals on points difference.
But Cheika still believes that the All Blacks are firm favourites heading into the championship decider in Sydney in a fortnight’s time.
“It’s two games. You look at the competition table after two games, that’s not when it finishes,” said Cheika after Australia’s 34-9 win over Argentina in Mendoza.
“This year it’s a little bit closer, but it’s very obvious that New Zealand are the best team in the world, and I mean by a long way at this stage.
“To beat South Africa like they did, I think they did it pretty easy in the end.
“They’ve been so consistent over so many years, so just having a couple of wins in The Rugby Championship, you’re not going to guarantee anything”.
Like the Wallabies, Steve Hansen’s All Blacks have also enjoyed wins over Argentina and South Africa and have set up a grandstand finish at ANZ Stadium next weekend where the All Blacks will look to put one hand on a thirteenth consecutive Bledisloe Cup.
Australia prevailed 34-9 winners over Argentina in Mendoza while the All Blacks came from behind to beat South Africa 27-20 in a thriller in Johannesburg, and Cheika has made it clear that he is not getting carried away after two wins.
“We’ve done nothing,” added Cheika. “We’ve played a couple of games, we snuck home in one, stuck at it in this one, we’ll look at the next one when we get back to Sydney.
“We want to really try to keep improving so we can come into some shape over the next period before we go to the World Cup.”
“We’ve got to work really hard over the next couple of weeks, plan well and really make sure that we run out at ANZ Stadium in a couple of weeks’ time ready to make Australian rugby people proud of how we play.”
The Wallabies will welcome Wycliff Palu and Henry Speight back into the mix for the decider, while Brumbies lock Sam Carter remains doubtful as he continues to recover from knee surgery last month.
Tahs Fan
Guest
Thanks for putting out the obvious LED
LED
Guest
How is this even an article? You took 6 words that are the most obvious statement ever in rugby and wrote 200 words about them. What is the point of this?
Taylorman
Guest
Yeah a draw would be a sad way to win it. Oz best chance to win this with the two big ones at home. Hopefully ABs play the top side and bring DC and Savea, Retallick, Kaino back in to start. Smith to Fullback, piutau on the wing.
Pita
Guest
Newsflash - Cheka knows his rugby. Reminds me of Bruce Buffer - the reigning, defending, undisputed champions!
Jokerman
Guest
To be honest I'd find it unbearable to lose to Australia. It truly gives me great joy to talk about the game prior. Make predictions, see the All Blacks win, then jumping on the roar showing my empathy while screaming with laughter. 13 years. If I ever see McCaw walking down the street I will have to tell him and say thanks for giving me such joy always around this time of the year. That all said I do like the odd Aussi roarer. Hmm like Brett and maybe a couple of other ones that aren't aggressive.
Jokerman
Guest
I look forward to Cheika's behaviour when he starts to lose. Easy to say the right things after two wins. All Blacks to beat them in Sydney. Close for a while until the All Blacks run away with it by 9-14. Eden park they get smashed by about 20+ I'm looking forward to it. Australia May niggle but it should back fire for them.
warrenexpatinnz
Roar Guru
Bench has won them the first two tests. As for the rest, lets see....
Playmaker
Guest
Politically correct, but is there an ounce of truth in it, is Cheika a realist and doesn't want a hiding in his backyard or has the mind games begun.Should be a lot of hot air before kick off, RC for grabs and bragging rights.
Mike Julz
Guest
So if the Wallabies are ahead of the All Blacks on points difference, it might come in handy for them. A draw might be good enough to win the championship. But then again, they still need a win and a win at Auckland to claim back the Bledisloe.
whydoncha
Guest
Well for a start it's the truth: they are the best team in the world. No argument here. Besides the times when we've told them to bring their A-game or how we are gonna do this or gonna do that it didn't really seem to work. In fact it seemed to get them decidedly angry and looking to make us eat our words. Why give them any extra motivation? Show them their due respect and get on with it.
Old Bugger
Guest
Cheika just wanted to make sure there was no room for Hansen to get a serve on him like he did against Mackenzie....still, doesn't the table show that the WBs are ahead in points diff hence, the ABs are naturally underdogs notwithstanding, its a WB's home-game?
Pete
Guest
Not likely that Wobblies will be in the final at the WC. Tight five looks woeful as ever. Halves wouldn't make any of the other 5 sides ranked above them and the bench is third rate.
Taylorman
Guest
The art of playing the underdog is very much a learned skill and what he will be saying to his players will be very different to what he'll be telling his players, for obvious reasons. Now Hansen will come out with the respecting our ANZAC neighbours and all that but it is good to have a finals situation, where in a weirdly selective way in terms of historically, there are benefits from winning and losing, if you are that way inclined. The losers will say no one has won this and the World Cup same year where the winners need say nothing, the job is done.cheap shot and it's irrelevant shot but it will be inevitable for some. But great to see a final and Hansen at least will be seeing this as a World Cup final dress rehearsal, as that could end up being the case.
riddler
Guest
like the comments.. keeping his head down and just getting on with it..