All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has flatly refuted a Wallabies’ allegation he had a secret meeting with referee Romain Poite before the second Bledisloe Cup Test.

The Australian Rugby Union filed an official complaint after Saturday’s 29-9 defeat in Wellington, claiming Hansen and Frenchman Poite had met in contravention of World Rugby regulations.

Hansen said on Sunday he never met with Poite but did catch up with assistant referee Jaco Peyper, who controlled last week’s first Test in Sydney, at the South African’s request to “review” several incidents from that match.

“I’m a firm believer that we’re here to support the referees and help them. It’s a difficult game to ref so why wouldn’t you have the meeting?” Hansen said.

“(But) we certainly didn’t have one with Romain Poite.

“We don’t meet the ref, haven’t done for about 18 to 24 months, because it’s just a waste of time.”

Under World Rugby rules, coaches are permitted to meet with referees before a match, but only if there are representatives from both teams present, or if one side is invited and declines the opportunity.

Hansen said it was “quite sad” the allegation was made and joked he was “shattered” by the implications.

Ref would not engage with Wallaby Stephen Moore. Photo: Getty

Upon arrival back in Sydney, coach Michael Cheika tried to play down the controversy as a “footnote” for the Wallabies.

“It’s something we want to be heard on and I think for Australia we’ve got to get ourselves heard on and off the field as much as we can to try and get ourselves more organised,” he said.

Cheika also blasted Poite post-match for ignoring approaches from captain Stephen Moore to discuss in-game rulings, even claiming referees have preconceived ideas about Australian players.

But Hansen – who noted Cheika didn’t complain about the refereeing in last year’s World Cup quarter-final against Scotland, which was decided by a controversial late penalty – suggested that was their fault.

“I know he was upset the ref didn’t talk to Stephen but if I was in their shoes I’d be wanting to ask myself what is it we’re doing that’s making him not want to talk to Stephen?” Hansen said.

“The best captains in the world pick their moments.”

New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup for the 14th-straight year after outclassing an improved Wallabies.

Despite a vastly better performance than last week’s capitulation in Sydney, Australia never looked likely to win and could do little to stop the All Blacks once their irresistible catch-and-pass game clicked into gear.

The result brings Australia’s losing streak under Cheika to six matches – one short of the seven defeats in 2005 that eventually led to the sacking of Eddie Jones.

A sold-out crowd of 35,372 was on hand at a windswept Wellington Stadium, where the Wallabies have not won for 16 years.

They began with clear intent but still fell down in key areas, coughing up three lineouts and struggling to contain the slick, polished world champions, missing 27 tackles to six.

Quade Cooper had a mixed showing in his first Test for almost a year and, as expected, was booed with nearly every touch.

The All Blacks were not as clinical as last week but were still far too good for Australia.

They led 15-9 at half-time after Australia debutant Reece Hodge nailed a 52-metre penalty shot but spent most of the second stanza in cruise control, with tries from Julian Savea and Sam Cane snuffing out any chance of an unlikely Australian comeback.

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Winger Israel Dagg also crossed for a first-half double, his second try set up by a scintillating Beauden Barrett run.

The Wallabies barely had a sniff in attack with the All Blacks dominating possession and territory all night.

The closest they came was when Nick Phipps crossed in the dying moments but lost control of the ball as he tried to touch down.

Australia’s only scores were two penalties from Bernard Foley and one 35th-minute three-pointer by Hodge, who was thrown into the mix earlier than expected after veteran winger Adam Ashley-Cooper went off with concussion in the 17th minute.

Two-Test lock Adam Coleman was also yellow-carded just before the interval for a late shoulder charge on Ben Smith.

The Wallabies will look to recover from what has been a nightmare fortnight when they face South Africa on September 10 at Lang Park.

The final Bledisloe Test will be played at Eden Park on October 22.

– AAP