A skirmish over player etiquette has broken out between the Wallabies and All Blacks, adding spice to the second Bledisloe Cup Test.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen was miffed most of the Wallabies players walked from the field soon after last weekend's Test in Sydney.
A handful of Australia's players remained to watch a presentation to All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock, who had completed his 100th Test.
"I know if it was us, we'd stay out and acknowledge it. I think it's a tremendous feat playing 100 Test matches, it doesn't matter what country it is," Hansen said.
"There's a lot of energy, a lot of mental fortitude, a lot of time, and a lot of sacrifices by the players' family to get to that point. It's worthy of respecting it."
Cheika was unimpressed by the jab, insisting he and his players were unaware any presentation was to take place.
He had never seen both teams remain on the field to mark a player milestone previously.
"We certainly wouldn't be asking to do it on another team's ground, we'd do it in the dressing room," Cheika said.
"But if that's what they want to do ... congratulations to the player, he's a fine player, 100 caps is a really, really great effort.
"To say that we lack respect is a little bit of a stretch from Steve Hansen."
Previous All Blacks centurions have been honoured with a stage presentation, with microphones wired to the stadium speakers.
Whitelock's was a low-key affair in front of a television camera.
Attention now swings to how the Wallabies will approach a post-match presentation for New Zealand prop Owen Franks, who raises his ton in Saturday's second Test at Eden Park.
- AAP
