New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is incensed about borderline Wallaby tactics during the Tri Nations decider in Auckland.


All Blacks openside and captain Richie McCaw felt the brunt of Wallaby aggression. The captain, who has a history of concussions, suffered a broken nose off the ball after receiving a forearm to the head at one first-half ruck.


And early in the second spell McCaw featured in a backline movement, only to be upended and driven headfirst into the ground by Lote Tuqiri. The Eden Park crowd, including PM Clark, boiled with outrage and a clearly shaken McCaw was left gingerly testing his neck. Clark, who is seldom compelled to comment on All Black matches, expressed her concern afterwards.

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"We witnessed several acts of assault against the All Black captain and it was very, very ugly to see,"

she told NZ Radio.


Tuqiri, who otherwise excelled, scoring two excellent tries, remains
unrepentant about the tackle. He was however cited by citing commissioner Willem Venter and subsequently banned for 11 weeks, effectively five games.


Interestingly, All Black lock and hardman Chris Jack wouldn't condemn Tuqiri's tackle, instead preferring to stress the brutal nature of high-pressure test matches and the added risks inherent in the nature of openside play.



Perhaps the most telling comment came from Springbok coach Jake White, who observed:

"If you're seen as that good, people will target you and try to get you out of the game as long as it's all above board and legal. I suppose that's why he plays in that position."