Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has laughed off suggestions that Australia are favourites heading into the first Bledisloe Cup test against the All Blacks in Sydney next week.
Last weekend All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said the Wallabies would be the bookies' favourites to win the first test of the Rugby Championship.
His comments came after the Wallabies trumped New Zealand 23-18 the last time the sides met, breaking a six-game winless drought against the World Cup champions stretching back to 2015.
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But the All Blacks have won 15 of the previous 19 encounters between the sides, which has left Cheika scratching his why Hansen would even suggest that his team are favourites.
"I was a little bit surprised," Cheika said.
"Hansen's a fine coach, and he's obviously a great rugby mind, he's leading the team that's the best in the world, he's a great coach.
"But I think he may have had that one wrong because I don't think many of his players would believe it to be honest."
At present, the bookies have the Wallabies at $4.25 outsiders compared to the All Blacks at $1.18.
Cheika also brushed off the idea that Hansen had some kind of psychological agenda.
"Sometimes you say stuff and go, 'Maybe I shouldn't have said that or whatever.' I don't think it's a big deal, and it's not like they're going on about it.
"I don't think it's very realistic. I don't think his own blokes would believe it, so maybe that's why they didn't say it again after the presser."
The All Blacks will travel to Sydney to begin preparation for the first test on Sunday.
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