All Blacks take aim at former Wallaby over Michael Hooper attack accusations

A furious All Blacks team has denied accusations from a former Wallaby that they planned to physically target Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper after the Bledisloe red-card incident.

Michael Hooper (right) and Ardie Savea come together in Perth. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

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The under-fire All Blacks have slammed former Wallaby Rod Kafer for suggesting they deliberately targeted Australian skipper Michael Hooper in last weekend’s Test.

Lock Scott Barrett has been suspended for three weeks after shoulder-charging Hooper’s head, which resulted in him being sent off in Perth, while flanker Ardie Savea had earlier struck Hooper’s head after a tackle.

Fox Sports commentator Kafer said it was an obvious tactic to target rival skippers, but those comments struck a nerve in Auckland on Tuesday.

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Michael Hooper (right) and Ardie Savea come together in Perth. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright

“The answer is no it wasn’t, Rod’s a very smart man, I’m a little bit surprised he said it,” All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said.

“People can say whatever they like. It doesn't change the truth which is we didn't. I'm sure Rod will sit down one night and have a cup of tea and think that maybe wasn't the truth after all.”

All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock said he was hurt by Kafer’s inference they deliberately tried to hurt Hooper.

“That’s his opinion but I’ve never been involved in talking about or setting up anything like that,” Whitelock said.

Scott Barrett shoulder charge on Michael Hooper. Picture: Fox Sports

“Obviously [I am] a little bit hurt hearing someone say that but that's his opinion and he's entitled to it.”

Kafer had said he suspected the All Blacks wanted to unsettle the Wallabies leader, who was unfazed in a phenomenal performance that included 20 runs.
“You go into games trying to unsettle the leaders of an opposition team, it’s pretty standard,” Kafer said.
“And looking back at the game, it didn’t surprise me to see those two illegal acts on the Wallaby captain - it may well have been part of the tactic going into the game.”

Originally published as All Blacks take aim at former Wallaby over Michael Hooper attack accusations