Michael Cheika
Australian Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika directs his players during the warm-up before the rugby union test match against France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis near Paris, November 15, 2014. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes (FRANCE - Tags: SPORT RUGBY)

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has claimed Australia as the underdog in the Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand. Despite leading the tournament on point-differentials ahead of the rugby clash, Cheika heaped praise on the All Blacks, describing New Zealand’s rugby team as the “best” in the world for their consistent success in the world stage.

Australia has set up a showdown with the All Blacks on August 8 after winning previous matches against Springboks and Pumas. The former New South Wales Waratahs coach admitted that two games could not gauge Australia’s success in the international rugby competition as reported by Stuff.co.nz.

"This year it's a little bit closer, but it's very obvious that New Zealand are the best team in the world, and I mean by a long way at this stage,” Cheika said. "They've been so consistent over so many years, so just having a couple of wins in the Rugby Championship, you're not going to guarantee anything."

Cheika has been pleased with Wallabies’ early showing in the Rugby Championship, but admitted the team still has to work hard over the next couple of weeks and be sure to make Australian rugby people proud at ANZ Stadium. The 48-year-old Cheika also understands the team’s position against New Zealand and knows the match will be a good challenge for Australia’s international campaign.

After strongly finishing its previous match against Argentina with a 34-9 win, Wallabies will face a tougher New Zealand squad, who won its previous match against South Africa. The Rugby Championship decider will also be the first of two Bledisloe Cup tests between Wallabies and the All Blacks.

Meanwhile, Wallabies are confident that key flanker Michael Hooper will be part of the decider next week. Australia believes Hooper can escape suspension when he faces the SANZAR judiciary on Wednesday after striking Pumas halfback Nicolas Sanchez, according to Daily Telegraph. The 23-year-old Wallaby was cited on Monday for an off-the-ball incident involving Sanchez in the second period of the game in Mendoza.

“I don’t want to say too much before it happens because I don’t want anyone to get any ideas about anything, but if we didn’t believe that he was not guilty then we wouldn’t have proceeded to the hearing,” Cheika said when asked about the chances of playing Hooper against the Tall Blacks.

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