All Black Jerome Kaino says he was hit with a torrent of public and social media criticism after being accused of deliberate dangerous play by the British and Irish Lions.
Kaino was forced to defend his integrity on Wednesday following Lions coach Warren Gatland’s claims that All Blacks players intentionally and dangerously targetted the legs of Irish halfback Conor Murray during the first Test.
An incident involving Kaino in the 10th minute was the only act that came close to Gatland’s description.
The veteran flanker says he never set out to hurt Murray and simply got his timing wrong when trying to charge down a kick and rolled into the player’s standing leg.
“What’s at question here is my intent and what kind of player I was,” Kaino said.
“All I can say is I would never go into a game thinking that I’d target someone and intentionally hurt them.”
The 34-year-old revealed he had been bombarded with comments on social media about the incident, which he was trying to ignore in the lead-up to Saturday’s second Test in Wellington.
“I’ve seen it, reviewing the game and it’s popped up on my twitter feed about a million times so it’s a bit hard to avoid,” he said.
“I guess people have their opinions on it.
“It’s a different world with social media added into it but you learn how to block things out. You have great people around you that you get good advice from.”
Gatland’s comments have stirred up the home side, with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen having offered some stinging remarks in response.
Kaino repeated Hansen’s claim that they would never try to injure an opponent.
“What’s been said out there about malice and intention, that’s never the case.
“I wasn’t cited and I don’t think I should have been.”
Kaino confirmed the All Blacks didn’t go in with a preconceived plan to target Murray.
However, putting pressure on the Munster No.9 was an obvious tactic because of the quality of his kicking.
Shanky
Guest
Here's the gif. Make up ypur own mind https://i.gyazo.com/0239f3e4db770b0831b41053b4c2b672.gif
Shanky
Guest
Watch it again. Kaino is actually knocked off balance by Faletau returning from an offside position. Shocking stuff by the Lions.
Bob
Guest
C'mon guys move on. Kaino's not known as a dirty player and whilst it doesn't look great there's always a few these things in every game and part of rugby's greatness is the ability to move past these things.
System of a Downey Jr
Roar Rookie
Mako Vunipola's hit - not even commented on by Gatland or a single 'ex-player', 'expert' or British journalist - the same ones calling Jerome Kiano a thug. Have a look at the neck roll on Ben Smith just before he is taken off for concussion. No apologies forth coming from Gatland for Henderson's tackle - if anything he thinks it was nothing. What a load of rubbish- if that happened to Conor Murray Gatland would be the leading the pitchforks and torches brigade that has descended upon the All Blacks since Saturday. And in all of this Gatland, The Lions and the citing commissioner never even submitted the incident for investigation - so that makes it obvious there wasn't anything to answer. For such an egregious act of thuggery surely it should have been submitted by Gatland? The All Blacks aren't angels - but they aren't demons either. Looking forward to the Lions starting a fight every single time they get bested in the forwards - which has been about every ten minutes on this tour (which is a remarkable percentage of the time), throwing away the ball when they concede a penalty and shouting at opposition lineout calls. They're will be heaps of niggle on Saturday. It'll be nasty - and a French ref in the mix will add to the chaos. It'll be a messy game
piru
Roar Rookie
I was replying to Piru’s claim that AB supporters never complain about such things. I don't recall saying that
ClarkeG
Guest
"If that was against the AB half back the howls would be deafening" you said. I said I doubt that would be the case. I imagine it would hardly show on the radar screen. Hence my question to you....as deafening as yours? and other comments you have made regards this matter over the last couple of days. Hope that clears it up.
Marto
Guest
Timbo Julian " wife basher " Savea was worse...
Drongo
Roar Rookie
A single and reasonable comment on the tackle? It's the responses to my fair comment you must be referring to?
rebel
Guest
Thanks for agreeing the only difference was the injury.
Bakkies
Guest
'He had his hands out to block the kick, a non event. ' He was never to going to block the kick
Bakkies
Guest
'Only difference between the two “clear outs”' Really? O'Driscoll was suplexed vertically and dropped on his shoulder by two players.
ClarkeG
Guest
do you ever get tired of it?
ClarkeG
Guest
ohhhh dear....
ClarkeG
Guest
I doubt that Drongo ....as deafening as yours?
ClarkeG
Guest
Murray should have definitely been YCd for that if not RCd. It's bad enough doing it to an opponent but to a team mate....heck.
ClarkeG
Guest
Well as it turns out it is neither but whatever it was the bump from Faletau did not help.
ClarkeG
Guest
do you have another record in your collection?
ClarkeG
Guest
Henry...he made light of the social media part of it. He was most certainly not playing the victim.
Jumbo
Guest
He had his hands out to block the kick, a non event. He should have a hard look at his scrums first. The argies definitely roughed up aaron smith last year, that's the game.
Drongo
Roar Rookie
RWC, Pocock was trying to free himself from a ruck or maul. The complaints over nothing came thick and fast. The head roll was a justified suspension. I was replying to Piru's claim that AB supporters never complain about such things.