DESPERATE MAN

All Blacks hit out at Gatland again

THE bad blood between Steve Hansen and Warren Gatland has intensified after the New Zealand coach branded the Lions supremo ‘desperate’ for suggesting Conor Murray was deliberately targeted during the first Test.

Gatland accused the All Blacks of trying to take out the Irish scrum-half. But Hansen hit back.

‘It’s predictable. Two weeks ago we cheated in the scrums, last week it was blocking, now this. It’s really disappointing what he’s implying, that we are intentionally going out to injure somebody. I guess he might be a bit desperate,’ he said.

Sportsmail columnist Sir Clive Woodward today urged Gatland to focus on Saturday’s critical second Test in Wellington. ‘Gatland’s wrong over this Conor Murray row. There’s no case to answer and the Lions should quickly move on,’ he said.

steve hansen has reignited his war of words with Warren Gatland — branding the Lions boss desperate and predictable for suggesting that scrum-half Conor Murray was being dangerously targeted.

Gatland said the all Blacks deliberately tried to take out the Irish no 9 after he had sent up box-kicks in the first Test. and he called on Jerome Garces, the French referee for Saturday’s second Test against new Zealand, to protect his player.

But all Blacks coach Hansen fired back angrily, even questioning Gatland’s Kiwi heritage. ‘It’s predictable coming from Gatland,’ Hansen told radio Sport NZ.

‘Two weeks ago we cheated in the scrums, last week it was blocking, now we’re saying this. It’s really disappointing to hear what he’s implying, that we are intentionally going out to injure somebody.

‘That is not the case. We’ve never been like that and as a new Zealander I expect him to know the new Zealand psyche.

‘ It’s not about intentionally trying to hurt anyone, it’s about playing hard and fair. I guess he might be a bit desperate, I don’t know why he would be saying it.’

Gatland was annoyed at the way Murray was treated.

‘There were a couple of times where he’s kicked and they’ve just pushed him to the ground after he’s box-kicked, so I don’t know if it was a tactic,’ he said.

‘If someone pushes him afterwards, that’s fine, but diving at his leg — I know other teams have used that in the past and I think Joe Schmidt has come out and was pretty critical about that being a tactic other teams have used against Conor.

‘It’s just a safety issue for me. I’d hate to see someone dive at his leg and have him blow a knee and wreck his rugby career.’

That suggestion riled Hansen. ‘He’s implying we’re trying to hurt the guy,’ he said. ‘rugby is about playing within the laws. In this case we’re trying to charge the kick down and or tackle him. Both those things are legal.

‘Just because (Murray) is one of their key players, he doesn’t have the right to go around without being charged down or tackled. after such a great Test match, (Gatland) comes out and is saying something like that.’