Tuesday 27 June 2017 11:55, UK
New Zealand flanker Jerome Kaino has rejected allegations he intentionally targeted British and Irish Lions scrum-half Conor Murray, and says he predicted a backlash from the tourists after their first Test loss.
Lions coach Warren Gatland said after the 30-15 defeat players were recklessly diving at Murray in a dangerous manner that could cause a career-ending injury, targeting the standing leg of the Munsterman during box-kicks.
The comments, dismissed as "desperate" by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, put Kaino under the spotlight as he crashed into Murray from the blindside early in the game while the Irishman was kicking.
The flanker said he was trying to disrupt Murray's kick "but my timing was off and I rolled into his planted foot".
"What's been said out there about malice and intention to hurt anyone, that's never the case," Kaino said on Tuesday.
"It is never our intent to go out and intentionally injure someone outside the laws. 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."
Former Lions prop Matt Stevens told Sky Sports News HQ on Monday Kaino had deliberately targeted Murray during Saturday's first Test, calling it premeditated and a "cynical play".
"It was more timing," Kaino said in response. "He is very quick getting the ball to foot, and maybe there was a bit of timing there.
"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'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.
"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 don't think it bothers us what's going on outside of our circle.
"Their team meetings and training will have a lot of edge and lot of emotion...so we need to make sure that we turn the screw a lot more in our sessions and expect a backlash from the Lions on the weekend."
