Tuesday 27 June 2017 06:08, UK
New Zealand flanker Jerome Kaino deliberately targeted Conor Murray during Saturday's first Test against the British and Irish Lions, according to former England international Matt Stevens.
A war of words has erupted over the Irish scrum-half's physical treatment by the All Blacks with Warren Gatland alleging the Kiwis dangerously tackled Murray's standing leg whenever he attempted to launch a box kick.
Those comments incensed All Blacks coach Steve Hansen so much he contacted a New Zealand radio station to defend his team, and he labelled Gatland "desperate" after losing soundly in the first Test.
But Stevens, who toured with the Lions in 2005 and 2013, believes Gatland is right to draw attention to the issue.
"Any coach at that level has to court the media a little bit to try and take the pressure off his players," Stevens told Sky Sports News HQ.
"That is what Steve Hansen is trying to do. He is trying to attack the person and put it back on Gatland.
"But from that evidence, Gatland has got some pretty good reason to point the blame at Kaino there."
The most contentious incident in the game occurred in the first half when All Blacks No 6 Kaino attempted to block down a Murray box kick.
Kaino came from the Munster's player blindside and failed to make contact with the ball before crashing into Murray's standing left leg - an action Stevens believes was premeditated.
"Conor Murray is being touted as the best scrum-half in the world and is definitely one of the best kicking scrum-halves in the world so he is one of the better players in this Lions team," Stevens added.
"Are New Zealand being cynical? From the evidence, it looks like they are.
"When you look at that - Jerome Kaino has made a decision. He has put his head down, put his hands out to attack the ball but he can't attack the ball from that side.
"So, in my opinion, I think it is cynical play and it is something he has thought about before he has done it."
