Wallabies coach fires back at Rieko Ioane over haka 'disrespect' sledge

SPOTLIGHT: Dave Rennie has lit the fuse ahead of the Rugby Championship finale.

The Wallabies head coach called out All Blacks star Reiko Ioane for trash-talking his players at the end of last weekend's clash in Melbourne.

Australia suffered a heartbreaking 37-39 defeat after a try by Jordie Barrett at the death.

"Rieko Ioane had a lot to say to our boys after the final try, mouthing off at Folau Fainga'a around disrespecting the haka," Rennie said.

"Which is a bit odd because as New Zealanders would know, when a team does a haka you respond with a haka.

"We don't have the luxury of having a haka so our response is [to get] in the boomerang shape and to move forward.

"They've thrown down a challenge and we're accepting it."

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Rennie said the Wallabies would continue to confront the haka, a Maori custom traditionally performed when two tribes met.

"Is the expectation that we just stand there, they throw a challenge at us and we do nothing? Just take it?" he asked.

"We think it's a very respectful way of responding, and it's unique to us because of the boomerang shape. We won't be stopping that."