All Black Kaino denies intent to hurt Murray
WELLINGTON: All Black Jerome Kaino on Tuesday rejected al legat ions he maliciously targeted British and Irish Lions scrum- half Conor Murray and predicted a backlash from the tourists after their first Test loss.
Lions coach Warren Gatland said after the 30-15 defeat that players were recklessly diving at Murray in a dangerous manner that could cause a career- ending injury.
The comments, dismissed as “desperate” by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, put Kaino under the spotlight as he crashed into Murray 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,” he told reporters after being peppered with questions about the incident.
The 79-Test veteran said he played hard but “within the rules and the spirit of the game”.
Asked if he had seen the incident since Saturday, he replied: “It’s popped up on my Twitter feed about a million times, so it’s a bit hard to avoid.”
He said the furore sparked by Gatland’s comments had not affected the All Blacks as the world champions prepared for the second Test in Wellington on Saturday.
“I don’t think it bothers us what’s going on outside of our circle,” he said.