WALLABIES coach Michael Cheika has revealed he has received “hate mail” on his personal phone and email accounts in the wake of the Wallabies’ embarrassing 54-34 defeat in the first Bledisloe Cup Test.

It has been a season from hell for Australian rugby, with the painful and protracted culling of the Force rubbing salt into the wounds of a 0-26 Super Rugby season record against New Zealand opposition.

The national team has failed to provide a tonic for the troubles, as Australia scrapped to wins over Fiji and Italy at home in June but fell to Scotland, then dropped to fifth on the world rankings following the Sydney shellacking.

NEW PODCAST! Sean Maloney, Stephen Hoiles and Christy Doran cross to Sam Worthington in New Zealand to review Bledisloe 1, preview the 2nd Test in Dunedin and reveal their greatest upset sporting movies given the Wallabies’ underdog status.

Forget about an unlikely upset victory, simply competing and providing a genuine contest against the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday would at least provide long suffering supporters some hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Cheika was asked whether he was blocking out or embracing the anger and negativity during his team’s preparations this week.

“No-one should be angry,” Cheika argued before the team flew south to Dunedin on Thursday evening.

“People can be disappointed.

“Anger is a different emotion, and I have heard a lot of anger and stuff around from people who might be bitter about it or whatever.

“I am not sure why you would be angry, because it’s your national team.

“You’d be disappointed, 100 per cent.

“I have certainly had some of my own hate mail to deal with.

“I am not sure how they get my email address but they happen to, or a phone number.

“But you have to roll with that stuff mate, you have to deal with it.

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“And you say there’s only one way that can change.

“Nothing that happens from Monday to Friday.

“The only way these things change is on the field.

“That’s where we have to change them.

“The other stuff (Super Rugby saga), that is in the (Australian Rugby) Union (hands), that’s away from us.

“As Wallabies, we have to change that on the field and that’s the only place to do it.”

Cheika reacted to the poor Sydney performance by bringing Rob Simmons, Tevita Kuridrani and Dane Haylett-Petty into his starting team.

That trio will bring some considerable experience to proceedings and it looms as a career defining occasion for unwanted Reds lock Simmons in particular after a rollercoaster season.

There are a litany of work-ons for the Wallabies but creating a better defensive connection and increasing leg drive in contact are two of the majors.

“Many times we had the right numbers, we just need to go and make the tackles,” Cheika said on reflection from the first Test, in which the All Blacks scored eight tries.

“I think that’s something we’ve got to get more forward in our defence.

“I think they’ve been defending pretty sideways all season in their teams and I want them to get defending more forward.”

Michael Cheika (left) watches his players warm up before game 1 of the Bledisloe Cup at ANZ Stadium. Source: AAP

Cheika maintained he was happy with his players’ commitment and belief but remained frustrated they were unable to transfer their good work at training into the games.

You would think that the Wallabies would be better for the run, in racing parlance, yet then again New Zealand will relish a dry track under the roof and the opportunity to honour the passing of the legendary Colin Meads.

Australia must win to set up a series decider in Brisbane.

“I know it’s a tough situation and I am sure we have had a lot of stones thrown at us, and justifiably so in some areas,” Cheika said.

“But I love it in that space.

“That’s where I have lived most of my life, in that space.

“I want the players to enjoy it, enjoy being in that place and then get out of it and then stay hungry when you do.

“I think it’s a really great opportunity for us, and I am not just saying that because that’s the spin everyone likes to put on when you’re in that.

“This really is a huge opportunity for players to show who they really are.”