Australia coach Michael Cheika has laughed off the suggestion that he deliberately avoids referring to World Cup final opponents New Zealand as the All Blacks.
The All Blacks nickname is one of the most iconic in sport and it has been suggested on social media that Cheika refuses to use the term so as not to add to the aura that surrounds the defending champions.
However, speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday's massive Twickenham showdown, the Wallabies coach denied such claims.
Asked if the rumours had any basis in fact, he replied: "I've read a bit about that.
"People have had a bit of a crack at me, thinking that I don't say that for a certain reason.
"But it's pretty funny because, if you notice, I never call Australia the Wallabies either. I'm really a bit old-fashioned in that way.
"It's a battle between nations on this stage. There's no secret squirrel."
Adopting a more light-hearted tone, he added, to laughter from the press corps: "Can I say All Blacks now for you? Oh! Hang on! (feigns being attacked by something unseen) Poltergeist!
"No mate. Maybe everybody's got a little bit too much time on their hands, because that's making something out of nothing."
New Zealand are favourites for Saturday's contest but Cheika says his side do not consider simply reaching the final an impressive achievement.
"We've had a lot of messages from a lot of people about how proud they are and everything like that," he said.
"But I'll be honest. A lot of it we don't want to let in, because we don't want to be proud just to make the final. That's too comfortable, that's too easy.
"We want to be proud of what we do on Saturday and make Australians even more proud of us, by giving everything we've got."
