Aisle be back: Clowns

OPINION: I've got a fair bit of time for Michael Cheika, when you actually look at what his job is - which it may surprise some people, but is apparently actually to be coach of the Wallabies.

Now he does muddy the water a fair bit by falling for some juvenile needling by the New Zealand Herald, some Steve Hansen mindgames, and his shoot from the lip style on a wide range of issues.

But this guy's no clown - he's just going heart-on-the-sleeve for his team and his country, and whether you can stomach how he does it, you wouldn't begrudge a New Zealand coach doing the same for the All Blacks.

Stripping back Saturday to what it was, a game of footie with a world record title on the line, you'd have to say the Wallabies were doing pretty well for clowns. This was an All Blacks team that was, by its own admission, pushed the hardest it has been all year.

The Speight non-try (and I think the Aussies were stiffed on that one) would have made it very interesting going into the last quarter. The Wallabies' tails were up, they were making good yards and keeping plenty of ball. The All Blacks defence of course wasn't buckling, but it would have been interesting to see them under the blowtorch and chasing the game.

As it was, for all that much improved effort, the Australian resistance lasted pretty much five minutes longer past than the 50 minute mark where most opposition teams have imploded this season.

When you see that, you can I think understand Cheika's frustration. I'd consider he's got the roughest assignment in world rugby coaching, as he has to face the All Blacks three times a year. Fast Eddie by comparison, hasn't faced them once in 2016, and won't have to in 2017.

Cheika doesn't have anywhere near the conveyor belt of fresh talent that New Zealand has, and the domestic and Super rugby structure doesn't seem to be helping.

Even so, he should head off on their Grand Slam tour with some optimism that the Wallabies are improving. Regardless, it should be very entertaining.

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Good to see Beaudy yanked early on Saturday. He's had a stellar year of course but something was well astray at the weekend. A couple of weeks ago a rugby journo said the All Blacks were so good, they didn't have to worry about goalkicking.

Well they do, and if BB is going to be the incumbent, that will be as they say, a "work-on" at test level.

Otherwise the day we lose a crucial game on kicking will be the day the lynch mob - probably led by the above journo - will come calling and it won't be pretty.

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This winning streak could go on a fair while, unless you think Ireland can finally do what they almost did in 2013 and topple the All Blacks. It's possible of course on their home turf - but I think it's more likely we'll eventually succumb to either Aussie or South Africa away.

I wouldn't mind if they did at some point. I can see the unbeaten run becoming a bit of a monkey on the back in a funny sense if it goes on and on.

These are strange days aren't they.

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Back to the Championship for the Wellington Lions, after a season of mainly close calls. They demonstrated the sort of volatility that hamstrung the Hurricanes for so long.

But there's plenty of optimism there too, with a more than useful forward pack being put together. Just a bit less generosity from the defence, and surely 2017 will be the year to get back in the top tier.

Lifelong All Blacks supporter Kev has followed the Hurricanes since they began. This year his faith in them was rewarded when they won the title. Now he’s holding out hope that the Wellington Lions can again one of these seasons too. Maybe net year.