Scott Barrett accuses Ireland star of cheap shot after ‘below the line’ hit on Damian McKenzie
Scott Barrett and Joe McCarthy involved in scuffle after All Blacks fly-half Damian McKenzie takes hit from Ireland lock.
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett felt that Damian McKenzie was the victim of a cheap shot from Ireland lock Joe McCarthy on Friday.
In the first half of New Zealand’s 23-13 victory at the Aviva Stadium, a scuffle broke out when the skipper went to grapple with his fellow second-row.
It seemingly came out of nowhere after a McKenzie knock-on led to an Ireland scrum, but replays showed McCarthy making contact with the fly-half just as the referee’s whistle went.
Barrett explained that he was angry with that hit from the Irish powerhouse and confronted the 23-year-old, leading to a flashpoint.
Making a point
“I don’t usually take exception but I saw something that was, I guess, below the line for me,” he told reporters.
“I guess you had to make a point of ‘you’re not targeting our 10 tonight’.”
Barrett insisted that was how he saw the incident at the time and, from his point of view, the All Blacks skipper felt that he had to protect his playmaker.
“I think I was getting up from a ruck and from where I saw it, it looked like Damian was on the ground and Joe cleaned him up,” he said.
“From where I saw it it looked like it was around his head. Whether it was or not, I’m not too sure, but I guess I took exception in that moment. It may not have been, I’m not too sure.
“It looked like a bit of a shoulder to a man on the ground.”
Barrett’s team-mates matched their skipper’s aggression and intensity as New Zealand claimed an important victory over Ireland on Friday.
It followed their win over England at Twickenham last weekend as they went three from three on their northern hemisphere tour, with France and Italy to come.
Winning the grudge match
The result in Dublin will be particularly special for the tourists. Much was made of the rematch from the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, but once again it was New Zealand who came out on top.
At the end of that 2023 encounter, there was a spat between Johnny Sexton and Rieko Ioane, which was recently reignited.
It set up a fascinating subplot and one which Scott Robertson’s men embraced after Ioane led the haka for the first time.
“We’ve got a number of guys who can lead the haka and it was Rieko’s first opportunity,” Barrett added.
“We love it (the haka), and the English walked forward, the Irish did that as well, and you can hear the atmosphere and the crowd really getting in behind it. It sets the tone for what’s in store.”
