Eye-gouging accidental, says Kiwis skipper
Kiwis captain Dallin WateneZelezniak says the England prop who eye-gouged him in yesterday’s 20-14 second test defeat at Anfield ‘‘wouldn’t have done it on purpose’’.
South Sydney front rower George Burgess could be in hot water after television footage showed his fingers making contact with the Kiwis fullback’s eye around the 60th minute at Anfield.
Watene-Zelezniak was able to carry on, but the incident is sure to be reviewed by rugby league officials.
The New Zealand skipper confirmed after the game that he ‘‘felt a finger go in my eye’’.
‘‘That’s football,’’ he told reporters in Liverpool.
‘‘Lucky the doctor was there to give me something. It was a bit blurry after that. Whatever he gave me helped a lot.
‘‘That’s international football. I’m a tough boy, I’m an adult, I’m a man so I can take those kinds of things but what I can’t take is a loss.’’
Watene-Zelezniak said he would have to watch the video before deciding if Burgess’ act was intentional.
‘‘He’s a big boy and he’s got some big fingers too. I think his whole hand would probably cover my whole face. England 20
‘‘I’m pretty sweet now. The doctor gave me some kind of eye drops. I’m sure it was accidental. It didn’t really mess with the game much but that’s football.’’
Meanwhile, Kiwis coach Michael Maguire says his team ‘‘must learn the harsh lessons’’ of test rugby league to turn a series defeat against England into future success.
The Kiwis have slumped from the high of beating world champions Australia in Auckland last month to two disappointing backto-back losses to England.
Maguire – speaking after yesterday’s loss in Liverpool, said the Kiwis have ‘‘had to learn some pretty harsh lessons of what test football is all about, in the last two games’’.
He said tests turned on ‘‘critical moments’’, and lamented the Kiwis’ concession of a try just before halftime for the second time in as many games.
Maguire also bemoaned the Kiwis’ mistakes rate with seven errors in the second half – six of them in the Kiwis’ own half, including some near their tryline.
‘‘That’s the difference of what makes test footy. You’ve got the best of each country playing, you need to understand that each play is so important.
‘‘Those are the lessons our players are learning at the moment.’’
Maguire said everyone in the Kiwis camp had ‘‘to take accountability’’ and work towards turning it around in the third test in Leeds this weekend.
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