Conrad Smith, one of Richie McCaw's vice captains, put it best: "South Africans obviously want you to lose at any cost, but they still respect you. If it's a good game of rugby, they'll respect that. Australians want you to lose, but then that's all they want. I remember some tough times in Sydney. The Australians have a way of getting under your skin."
Advertisement
His former assistant Steve Hansen has coached the team since Richie McCaw held the Cup aloft in Auckland, and they've only lost three times under his stewardship. But one of those, only two and a half months ago, was to Michael Cheikha's Wallabies. Like Japan's Eddie Jones, Cheikha is a brilliant, tough coach. Australia hasn't always been the inclusive cosmopolitan country it is today. Cheika – who is Lebanese Australian – didn't always have it easy on the way to the top, and has moulded his team with a hard, resilient attitude.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
This article originally appeared on VICE Sports