Steve Hansen backs under-fire Michael Cheika

Editor

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has leapt to the defence of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika ahead of the sides’ Bledisloe encounter on Saturday.

The Wallabies have won three of their past 11 matches and Cheika may have lost his job were it not for a dramatic late comeback to secure a 45-34 victory over Argentina in their last encounter.

Rugby Australia have given Cheika their vote of confidence, insistent that the 51-year-old will see out the remainder of his contract which expires after the Rugby World Cup next year.

And Hansen is also of the belief that making drastic changes less than a year out from the World Cup would be unwise on the part of Australia’s rugby bosses.

“I do know that continuity has been proven over and over again to be a pretty good recipe,” Hansen told Sky Sports.

“Look at Alex Ferguson. He was just about to get the sack and went on to do the job for 30 years – and he wasn’t too bad.”

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Hansen compared Cheika’s predicament to that of current United manager Jose Mourinho, who has also endured criticism after a poor start to the season.

“Mourinho is probably in a similar boat at the moment,” said Hansen. “They’re going to decide what they’re going to do with him because it’s probably not going as well as they would like.

“I just think that sometimes we pull the trigger too quickly on the coach – sometimes I guess it is warranted, but most time I don’t think it is,” he added.

“I think it’s a good thing (Australia) have given the players a platform that’s secure, because they know the coach is secure and once that happens people can get on and do what they have to do.”

The All Blacks were on the on the receiving end of a shock 23-18 defeat in Brisbane in the corresponding fixture last year and Hansen is expecting another tough challenge this coming weekend.

“They’re Australian so they don’t need too much motivation,” said Hansen, whose team face the 2019 World Cup hosts Japan in Tokyo on November 3 before flying to Europe to complete their five-match tour against England, Ireland and Italy.

“Through our history, Australia is probably the team that’s hurt us more than any other team,” he added.

“Everyone knows what it’s like between the two countries – whether it’s footy, marbles or tiddlywinks, we want to beat them. We need to be right on top of our game.”