All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has referred to Michael Cheika as ‘Mickey Mouse’ and suggested his Wallabies counterpart needs to ‘control his emotions’.
Hansen was interviewed by former TV presenter Ian Fraser at a Circa Theatre fundraiser on Monday.
When Fraser brought up a quote from former Wallabies flyhalf Mark Ella, who said ‘Mickey Mouse could coach the All Blacks to victory’ because of the quality of the players at the coach’s disposal, Hansen responded: ‘They’ve got Mickey Mouse coaching Aussie.’
Hansen admitted playing mind games with rival coaches, including Cheika during last year’s Rugby Championship.
‘Michael Cheika, who by the way isn’t a bad bloke, he just gets a bit emotional, and as you well know we thought we’d get him emotional and take his mind off the job,’ said Hansen.
‘I guess what we’re trying to do there is take his mind off the job and while I say he’s not a bad bloke, he’s got to control his emotions. I think he’s got a good side, he does a good job of the coaching, but sometimes he just lets himself down there.’
