PM Weighs In: McCaw 'Assaulted'
www.xtra.co.nz
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark weighed into a row following Saturday's bruising Tri Nations rugby encounter in Auckland, saying Australia were guilty of "acts of assault" on All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw.
New Zealand clinched the Philips Tri Nations title and completed a season 3-0 sweep of the Australians with the 34-27 victory at Eden Park but the match will be more remembered for its physical nature, highlighted by Lote Tuqiri's spear tackle on McCaw.
Wallaby winger Tuqiri was cited and then banned for 11 weeks for the heart-stopping 44th-minute incident in which McCaw was upended and left clutching his neck after his head struck the ground.
Tuqiri denied any malice and was indignant over his suspension, while McCaw suffered no long-term damage. But the ferocity of that tackle and other challenges on the All Blacks skipper angered the Kiwi PM.
"I thought it was absolutely appalling. We witnessed several acts of assault against the All Blacks captain and it was very, very ugly to see," she told New Zealand radio.
"One hesitates as just someone in the stand to voice an opinion but certainly I felt someone should have been sent off."
New Zealand coach Graham Henry had claimed on Sunday the Wallabies had deliberately targeted McCaw after his imperious back-row performances in the previous Tri Nations victories in Christchurch and Brisbane.
It is not the first time a New Zealand premier has shunned diplomatic niceties to comment on Trans-Tasman sporting incidents.
Prime Minister Robert Muldoon commented following a one-day cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1981 when the Kiwis needed six off the final ball for victory.
Australian skipper Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor to bowl the final delivery underarm to prevent New Zealand number 10 batsman Brian McKechnie having any chance of hitting the winning runs.
"It was an act of cowardice," Muldoon said.
"I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow."
