Lions Coach Warren Gatland says he felt uncomfortable watching the All Blacks' record-setting victory at Eden Park last weekend due to our lack of respect for the Wallabies in victory.
Speaking at the launch of the new Canterbury Lions jersey, Gatland said that whilst none of his feelings were directed at the All Blacks, he felt "embarrassed" to be a Kiwi with all the media attention focused on the depiction of Michael Cheika as a clown.
"To be honest with you - and I don't mind you printing this - I was at Eden Park watching the game a couple of weeks ago and as a Kiwi I was embarrassed," said Gatland.
"There's the clown stuff in the Herald. One of the things I've been proud of as a Kiwi, I always thought we showed a lot of humility."
He also said that he believed the winning culture bred by the All Blacks high victory rate had turned into arrogance.
"In the past, as New Zealanders, we've prided ourselves on being humble about the success of the rugby team.
"It was the first time, and this is just my opinion, that I found myself saying, 'We're better than this'. There was still a large proportion of that crowd booing Quade Cooper. And to me, get over it.
"There's a proportion at the moment in New Zealand where it's arrogance and not humility. I still think you can be proud, but show humility and show respect."
Whilst he was disappointed in the New Zealand crowds and a section of our media, Kiwi-born Gatland was mightily impressed by the type of rugby the All Blacks had pioneered.
"They've definitely taken the game to another level at the moment."
Newshub.
