Wallabies coach reveals Trump-like thin skin as All Blacks continue rugby reign

"Don't let my glad expression give you the wrong impression," soul legend Smokey Robinson crooned in his 1970 Motown hit 'Tears of a Clown.'

'Really, I'm sad, oh, I'm sadder than sad; you're gone and I'm hurting so bad."

Though Smokey is still around the traps, VICE Sports AUNZ was unable to confirm whether he caught the final Bledisloe Cup match between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park in Auckland last Saturday.

If he's a Wallabies fan, it's a good thing if he didn't. By a score line improved by a final quarter blow-out, Australia were smoked by the All Blacks 37-10.

It's in the post-match press conference, in the bowels of Eden Park, where Smokey's words resonate most. Apart from the 'glad expression' bit.

The 1970 Motown classic 'Tears of a Clown', by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Source: Youtube.

On the morning of the test, Australian coach Michael Cheika was lampooned in the New Zealand Herald with a cartoon of the Wallabies boss dressed up as a clown. The cartoon, which featured Cheika wearing a Wallabies jumper, was titled 'Send in the Clowns.'

In the presser, Cheika – clearly steaming after the Wallabies were outclassed by the hosts who were helped by a couple of poor refereeing decisions - launched into the All Blacks and partisan Kiwi press.

"They dressed us up as clowns today – so they really wouldn't really want our comment," Cheika said, after being asked what he thought of New Zealand's record 18 straight test victories.

"I don't think they respect our comment anyway."

Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore also described the cartoon as a mark of disrespect.

When challenged that it was the newspaper's decision to run the cartoon not the All Blacks, Cheika descended into confused conspiracy theories.

"That's the guy who reported the supposed bug, isn't it as well? Where did that come from?" he said, referring to an audio bug found at New Zealand's Sydney hotel in August.

Today, the All Blacks and betting syndicates were ruled out as suspects of planting the bug.

"If that's the way it is, that's fine."

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, and team captain Stephen Moore, in the post-match press conference from Saturday's test. Source: Youtube.

There's no doubt that the cartoon was cocky and clearly meant to stir up Cheika, who has fired up at the All Blacks before.

You feel for Cheika, whose Wallabies have fallen back to the chasing pack after meeting the All Blacks in last year's Rugby World Cup final in London.

New Zealand have beaten Australia relatively handsomely in all three tests this year, retaining the Bledisloe for the fourteenth straight season. That's beyond even the likes of Queensland's recent dominance of the State of Origin.

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And, sure, the cartoon was close to the bone, but if you're in the public eye, one must expect such jabs.

This is where Cheika, revealing a Donald Trump-like inability to take insults, bungled it. He should have just brushed it off, cut out the cartoon and stuck it on the dressing room wall for the Wallabies next clash against New Zealand. Use it as fuel, not as a point of derision.

New Zealand, for instances, has faced taunts of the cartoon rugby variety from Australia in the past.

A week before last year's Rugby World Cup final, Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph put a picture of Richie McCaw on their front page, portraying the All Blacks captain as a witchetty grub.

New Zealand went on to win the final, 34-17.

Highlights from Saturday's test between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park in Auckland. Source: Youtube.

Later asked about Cheika's comments, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said you just have to rise above them.

"It's how you deal with those frustrations and how you handle yourself when you're winning, I guess [that's] important," he says.

"This week, we've tried to play a pretty straight bat and not tried to aggravate anyone. Our media didn't help with the clown thing, but that's the media. It's not us.

"But at the same time, you've got to look at your own history and your own backyard and there's been plenty of people who've had a crack at McCaw and so forth."

It's rock solid advice from the world champion coach.

Perhaps the greatest irony of Cheika's cartoon complaints is that the New Zealand Herald cartoonist Rod Emmerson is an Australian.

The award-winning cartoonist said his Cheika's cousin once even dated Emmerson's sister.

"It is satire and nothing more – and a bit of payback for Witchetty Ritchie," Emmerson said.

"It was a bit of a friendly shot across the bow – except this took out the mast and sails instead."