A TRANS-TASMAN war of words has erupted after Wallabies coach Michael Cheika took offence to being portrayed as a clown by New Zealand’s leading newspaper.

The NZ Herald ran a caricature of Cheika with a red clown nose in its Saturday edition, accompanied by the headline ‘Send in the clowns.’

The All Blacks thrashed the Wallabies 37-10 at Eden Park on Saturday night in what was a tier one world record 18th straight Test win.

Cheika was asked for his thoughts on the achievement in the post-match press conference and his frustrations then boiled over.

“Well mate I don’t think they really want my comment anyway,” Cheika said.

“Well, no they don’t.

“They dressed us up as clowns today so they wouldn’t want our comment.

“I don’t think they respect our comment anyway so we won’t make one...

“It was on the front page of the paper, mate.

“They dressed us up as clowns... they’ve put our (Wallabies) crest on it, that’s our crest.”

The front page of the <i>NZ Herald</i> sports section on Saturday. Source: FOX SPORTS

A journalist pointed out that the All Blacks weren’t responsible for the clown comparisons.

Cheika appeared to respond by alleging the team was working in tandem with the newspaper to undermine the Australians.

“Well I think that’s the same guy that reported that we placed the bug as well, so where did that come from, you know what I mean?”

Cheika was referencing a NZ Herald story on the day of the All Blacks’ 42-8 victory over the Wallabies in the first Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney.

The newspaper revealed that a hi-tech surveillance device had been discovered in the All Blacks’ team hotel.

The All Blacks did not suggest that the device was planted by the Wallabies or the Australian Rugby Union.

“The thing that got me a little bit off-side was the accusation that we tried to bug them,” Cheika said.

“Like, really, hello, honestly?

“For me, that shows a lack of respect.

“I wouldn’t even be smart enough to get that stuff organised.

“They don’t need to do that stuff — they’re too good anyway.

“I wouldn’t say it’s like friendly (the Wallabies’ relationship with the All Blacks) but you’re not supposed to be friendly with the opposition.”

Wallabies captain Stephen Moore also fired up about the clown wind-up.

“When I think about the way that jersey’s portrayed in that picture, for everyone that’s pulled it on in the history of the Wallabies, I think that’s pretty disrespectful.

“But they’re (All Blacks) the ones that won the game, they’re the ones laughing.

“What can you do?”

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen then returned serve in his press conference, saying that Cheika was being too sensitive.

“The paper I saw, he (Cheika) was dressed up like a clown,” Hansen said.

“You’ve got to be bigger than that, don’t you?

“I’ve been dressed up as a clown myself.

“You don’t want to take it to heart, otherwise it’ll break you.

“We’ve got no control over what the media do... the thing for me, this conference tonight seems to have been hijacked by something that’s really got nothing to do with rugby, (by) someone feeling a little aggrieved about things that you guys (media) have done, making him be a clown.

“It shouldn’t get hijacked tonight.

“What happened tonight is a really good Test match between two good teams, some great rugby played and it was a good advert for the game.”