Michael Cheika has launched a furious defence of his Wallabies coaching job, saying it’s “naive” to think he’s worried about his future.
The mood turned icy at the post-Test press conference after Australia crashed to a second heavy loss to the All Blacks in the space of a week.
The 40-12 defeat at Eden Park cedes the Bledisloe Cup and twists the pressure up several notches on Chieka, whose position wasn’t under any question two weeks ago.
One scathing media column and a newspaper report that Rugby Australia wants to see winning results from the Wallabies in the next two months have changed the landscape.
Cheika said RA haven’t spoken to him and questioned the veracity of the report.
He then turned his venom on journalists who asked if he was perturbed by the sudden focus on his job security.
“If you’re naive enough to think that I’m worried about my job, then you don’t know me at all,” he said.
“The last person I think about is me.
“I want Australia to play good rugby and be the best it can.”
Another reporter who suggested Cheika might be wrestling with the right time to step aside was shot down by Cheika.
He said Australia’s success was more important than any personal glory.
“You don’t know if there’s a debate going on in my mind. I don’t know where you come off saying that?” Cheika said.
“If you think there’s a debate going on in my mind then you need to go and get some pills to sort it out.”