Murray Kinsella reports from Wellington
THE FURORE IS rolling on and it’s starting to get nasty, as Warren Gatland was mocked up as a clown by a New Zealand newspaper after implying that the All Blacks might have been out to deliberately injure Conor Murray.
All Blacks back row Jerome Kaino – who the grievance centred around – today denied that he had attempted to hurt Murray in the first Test of the Lions series.
In the aftermath of his side’s defeat in Auckland, Lions boss Gatland suggested that the All Blacks may have been targeting Murray’s standing leg when the scrum-half box kicked.
While Gatland did not name an individual player, it is understood the grievance was around Kaino’s challenge on Murray in the 10th minute of the first Test.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen yesterday expressed his disappointment at Gatland’s words, labelling the Lions coach “desperate” and “predictable”.
And speaking today in Wellington, Kaino denied that he had been trying to injure Murray but did admit that he had mistimed his challenge.
“It is never our intent to go out and intentionally injure someone outside the laws,” said Kaino. “We play hard and we play fair. That incident was a one-off. It is never our intention to go out and try and single anyone out.
“It was more timing. He is very quick getting the ball to foot, and there was a bit of timing there. But what has been said out there about malice and intention to hurt someone, that is never the case.
“It wasn’t my intention to hurt anyone and to play outside the rules. I wasn’t cited. I don’t think I should have been.
“I didn’t go in to tackle him. I rolled into his leg. What I was trying to do, his swinging foot, if you can disrupt that it’s like an ankle-tap, so you disrupt the kick. My timing was off, and I rolled into his planted foot, and that’s what I believed happened.”
To allow Kaino to front up to the media today in Wellington was a strong move by the All Blacks, but their hope is that the experienced flanker’s denial of any wrongdoing will now move things on.
Kaino had, of course, been aware of the storm over his challenge on Murray and he insisted he had no ill intent towards the Lions scrum-half.
“I’ve seen it reviewing the game, and it has popped up on my Twitter feed about a million times, so it is a bit hard to avoid it,” said Kaino.
“I guess people have their opinions on it. All I can say is it wasn’t my intention to go out there and target his planted foot. It is never nice when you have things done to you outside the laws, and the way we do things, it’s within the spirit of the game.
“I think what is at question here is my intent and what kind of player I was, and all I can say is that I never go into a game thinking that I am going to target someone and intentionally hurt them. I just wanted to clear that up.”
The incident has sparked a nasty response from the New Zealand Herald, who mocked Gatland up as a clown on the front page of their sports section on Tuesday along with the headline ‘If the nose fits, Warren.’
Gatland was previously depicted as a clown by the New Zealand Herald last year after he said he found the behaviour of some All Blacks fans embarrassing.
The newspaper has rolled the same theme out again today, with a strong article inside suggesting that “Warren Gatland’s absolutely blown it.”
“Implying the All Blacks are dirty is the unforgivable sin. Questioning their playing ethics and morals is a line that can’t be crossed,” writes Gregor Paul.
“That can’t be taken back and it can’t easily be forgiven. It is a baseless accusation that reeks of desperation.
“It looks painfully like a coach with an excellent global reputation feeling his career is about to take a nasty tumble, and he’s grabbing at anything on his way down.”
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I wonder how long it takes him to sign a few Irish in Bristol? Not saying it’s a bad thing but as he said he knows how good some of these players are
@Chris Mcdonnell: Well he’s already got Mads!
@RMcG: fair point I forgot about him but I was taking more about young players maybe second in line at their clubs.
I’m delighted for marmion. He got total of 6 minutes in the first two south African tests and was then replaced for the third by a player who had just announced his international retirement. He was clearly a player who deserved better than that and it took an injury to Murray to get his chance to show it. Still prefer Murray but Al least now we know that we have two 9s and 10s capable of playing.
Better than Murray potentially
@Alan Barber: that’s silly talk. Can you just not say he’s a fantastic player.
@Chris Mcdonnell: No. No I can’t Christmas Bells.
@Chris Mcdonnell: Chris this Alan b is like a sepsis on the 42. He lives on the soccer articles spewing about Man U or Liverpool can’t tell which as I don’t engage and now unfortunately he has infected the rugby comments.
My advice would be not to acknowledge him and hopefully he gets a job or something in the meantime
@bobby henderson: can just mute him. That’s what I did
There is no better preparation for playing Test Rugby, than actually playing test rugby. Critical that Murray has a deputy that is totally armed top step in when required. But is should not require injury to Murray for Marmion (or AN Other scrumhalf) to get sufficient game time to progress…
his big hots playing on the wing against Australia changed Joe’s perception of him
Marmion should be considered just as “cover” for Murray. He’s a different type of player and one that should be used when the strategy is complimented by his skillset. His consistent speed of delivery is top-drawer and he has the speed and eye for a gap to keep fringe defenses from taking short-cuts.
@Dennis Laffey: indeed it’s his eye for a gap that sets him apart from Murray. Marmion is such a nuggety little player, bristles with intent with or without the ball. If your an opposition nine he must drive you demented….
For me Murray rarely breaks whether it’s strategy or. choice,but it’s an oddity for a nine of his size who is by no means slow.
But it astonishes me given how much team’s target Sexton, that he doesn’t carry the ball up more himself and keep opposition backrows guessing….
Have some decorum, Daragh, its’ free