All Blacks tackle big issues

in the tackle, weren’t yellow or redcarded.

That was especially in light of a tackle on Ryan Crotty just prior, for which France lock Paul Gabrillagues was sinbinned. Gabrillagues appeared to collect Crotty around the chest but the way the All Black’s head rocked back suggested the contact had been higher.

‘‘I can’t really remember, to be honest. I just got up and got on with the next job,’’ Crotty said yesterday.

He certainly wasn’t trying to ‘‘sell’’ the incident as dangerous, to referee Luke Pearce.

‘‘I remember getting dominated. Like he dominated me in the tackle. I just got rag [dolled],’’ Crotty said.

‘‘I was probably a bit disappointed that I didn’t get enough of a weak shoulder to dominate my carry. I can’t really comment on the ref’s decision. Yeah, I’ll leave it there.’’

The closest the All Blacks came to sanction was on Wednesday, when World Rugby issued a warning to Tu’ungafasi. Hardly prompt but they are based in Dublin.

‘‘Oh no, not surprised,’’ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said, when asked about the seeming delay. ‘‘It takes a while for things to get over there. Long way away.’’

On a more serious note, Cane reiterated that the All Blacks are working very hard to keep tackles down and not incur the wrath of referees or World Rugby.

‘‘But the speed things happen and [with] the explosiveness of the athletes, sometimes those things can go slightly wrong. I can pretty much guarantee it’s never anyone’s intent to go out and cause any serious damage,’’ Cane said.

‘‘We’re talking split-seconds sometimes.

‘‘It’s easy when you look at it on the computer and when you slow the camera down and you go tap, tap [on the touchpad and say] ‘look, he could’ve done that’. When you put it back to full speed we’re talking about [snaps his fingers] bang.’’