Hansen claims that Lions coach Gatland is 'desperate'

New Zealand chief unhappy with opposite number's claims that the All Blacks had targeted Conor Murray in "dangerous" fashion during Saturday's first Test

Steve Hansen, right, and Warren Gatland, left, shake hands before the first Test, but relations between the two coaches appear to be souring. Michael Bradley / AFP

Steve Hansen has reacted angrily to British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland's demand that referees clamp down on New Zealand's "dangerous" targeting of Conor Murray by phoning a radio station to call him "desperate".

The New Zealand coach called Radio Sport directly to answer Gatland's call for greater protection of scrum-half Murray.

Gatland was frustrated by what he felt were deliberate tactics from the All Blacks, claiming they were diving "blindly" at Murray's standing leg whenever he launched a box kick in Saturday's 30-15 defeat to New Zealand.

He raised the issue chiefly out of safety concerns, but Hansen took such exception to those comments that he called a radio station to hit back.

"It's predictable comments from Gatland, isn't it?" Hansen told New Zealand's Radio Sport.

"Two weeks ago it was we cheated in the scrums, last week it was blocking and now he's saying this.

"It's really disappointing to hear it, because what he's implying is that we're going out there to intentionally injure somebody and that's not the case. I guess he might be a bit desperate.

"We've never been like that and as a New Zealander I'd expect him to know the Kiwi psyche."

Murray has been targeted directly when box-kicking in the past, with Munster reacting furiously when claiming Glasgow had targeted the Ireland scrum-half in their 14-12 Champions Cup win at Scotstoun on January 14.

France's Jerome Garces will referee Saturday's second Lions Test against New Zealand in Wellington, with Gatland saying he will raise the issue in meetings with the officials later this week.

"There were a couple of times from Conor Murray where there was a charge-down where someone dived at his legs," said Gatland.

"And I thought that was a little bit dangerous.

"And after he's kicked he's been pushed a few times, and pushed to the ground.

"It's just making sure he's being looked after and protected and not harassed after he's box-kicked.

"So we'll probably just get some clarity from the referee later in the week.

"We can't complain about the referee in terms of the way he controlled the match."

When it was pointed out to Gatland that Murray had received similar treatment in the past, the Lions boss replied: "Yeah he has, yeah, and it's a little bit tough.

"When you see someone dive at someone's leg and it's blind, you feel for the player, and it's a little bit concerning that they are actually not trying to charge the kick down, because they are nowhere near it. They are actually diving blindly and hitting someone's leg.

"So for me it's just about protecting the players, making sure they are safe and that's my biggest concern.

"So I'll just be asking politely that the officials look at that and make sure they protect him."

The Lions have to win Saturday's game if they are to remain in with a chance of claiming a first series victory against New Zealand since 1971.

They play the Hurricanes in a tour match on Tuesday in Wellington, with the side to be led by Rory Best, who also captained them to victory in their match against Chiefs earlier in the month.

Hurricanes coach John Plumtree, whose side will face the Lions' mid-week team on Tuesday, said he only saw one possible instance of Murray being targeted off the ball during the entire Test match.

"I don't think it's a trend that the referees will look at if it's only a one-off thing," he said.

"It might have been something that was happening back in the UK, certainly that's not part of our strategy."

Hurricanes captain Brad Shields said targeting a player in such a way was counter-productive because it resulted in penalties that gave an opponent attacking opportunities.

Shields said the defending Super Rugby champions forward pack wanted to impose themselves against the Lions.

"When we go will the rest of the team goes well, so we're just looking to get stuck in and be a real physical menace tomorrow night," he said.

Lions assistant coach Steve Borthwick wasn't buying into the argument over Gatland's comments, saying "I've been on the training field all morning" and was unaware of Hansen's retort.

"I haven't heard those comments but rugby at the top level is an intense competition where both teams are trying to apply as much pressure on the opposition as possible

"That's the nature of elite-level sport."

*Agencies