The Australian Rugby Union has reportedly passed down an "unofficial edict" to its members and the Wallabies stating: "Please do not call them All Blacks".
Last night the squad avoided using the All Blacks name throughout their press conference.
"They shied away from using All Blacks at all," One News reporter Andrew Saville said. "In fact, they didn't really refer to New Zealand at all."
It was a tactic employed by Sir Clive Woodward during the Lions tour of 2005 and while "New Zealand" certainly does sound less threatening than "All Blacks", it spectacularly backfired at the time.
And as the Wallabies continue to ignore the All Blacks name on their official social media accounts, it's certainly provoking a strong reaction in supporters from both sides of the Tasman.
"You mean against the ALL BLACKS! Funny how you won't use the name that's known by all nations. Me thinks there's some off field game play going on," wrote on All Blacks fan on a recent Facebook post by the Wallabies.
Even a Wallabies fan wasn't impressed by the mind games.writing "Call them All Blacks! Who cares! Show no fear!"
Wallabies players themselves have avoided mentioning their opponents at all on social media - referring to the final in general terms only.
But coach Michael Cheika appears to have quietly employed the tactic for quite some time. "I told the players the reality is the team that played against New Zealand last time out has probably earned itself another start for the tests," Cheika said in November 2014, ahead of the test against England.
It looks like only the All Blacks are deserving of this treatment. In the run-up to and during the semi-finals, the Wallabies were happy to refer to the Argentine side by their nickname Los Pumas.
Using the c-word
The tactic comes as Australia's tabloid media intensified their attacks on the All Blacks.
"Ask not whether the Wallabies can win this World Cup, ask whether the All Blacks can lose it," journalist Richard Hinds writes.
"Yes, yes. The All-Blacks have won the title twice and defied crushing expectation to triumph at home in 2011. Their World Cup curse seems well and truly reversed.
How the Australia's tabloids are treating the All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images
"But a gentle reminder that the mighty, all-conquering, we-are-not-worthy-to-wash-your-socks All-Blacks froze like rabbits in the spotlight at the site of the William Webb Ellis Trophy in five World Cups between 1987 and 2011 remains somehow reassuring."
The All Blacks went through five straight World Cups with knock-out defeats from 1991 to 2007 before ending the 24-year drought on home soil in 2011.
During that time the All Blacks lost a semifinal to eventual champions Australia, a final to hosts South Africa, a semifinal to France after holding a big lead, a semifinal to hosts Australia and a quarterfinal to France in Cardiff. The French results where the All Blacks were overwhelming favourites
The Wallabies own drought is now at 16 years and will stretch another four if they suffer defeat on Sunday.
Australia are also the only nation to lose a World Cup final and semifinal on home soil.
On Monday the paper had a humorous dig at the All Black captain yesterday, naming him "Richetty Grub" and "thugby's greatest champion" who should be unofficially registered as a pest in Australia ahead of the World Cup final.
Cheika on 'New Zealand'
November 1, 2014 - Ahead of England test "I told the players the reality is the team that played against New Zealand last time out has probably earned itself another start for the tests," Cheika said.
"But a good performance, I won't lie, will put pressure on me to back that player up in the test next week."
July 28, 2015 - Best team in the world "It's very obvious that New Zealand are the best team in the world, and I mean by a long way at this stage.
August 4, 2015 - Playing against them "I just think if you get the opportunity to play for Australia in a test match here against New Zealand, someone is going to get a lucky call and it's an opportunity for that guy to make the most of it."
August 6. 2015 - Serious team "I've only just started, I'm nowhere near reaching any type of mountain tops," Cheika said.
"Obviously by their number one ranking, there's no one more serious than New Zealand."
