Henry laughs off Putt's claim about Matfield

Victor Matfield

SYDNEY - A jovial Graham Henry wasn't about to suggest the International Rugby Board install metal detectors in the player's tunnel to prove a conspiracy theory surrounding Springboks' hit man Victor Matfield.

Henry has had to revamp his backline for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup/Tri Nations clash after Matfield concussed Byron Kelleher inside three minutes in Cape Town last Sunday.

And he's happy to leave the matter there despite former All Black and deposed Sharks Super 12 coach Kevin Putt claiming Matfield wore a steel strip under the bandage on his forearm.

Putt made the allegation on New Zealand television in the aftermath of the Springboks' 22-16 victory on Saturday, prompting a swift denial from Matfield and a degree of scepticism from the All Blacks coach yesterday.

"I haven't heard that before. Is it true? What do we do about it?" asked Henry before playfully suggesting members of the media hold Matfield down and "rip that thing off his arm and see if there's a plate there".

Matfield told South African rugby website keo.co.za the claim was ludicrous.

"I did not hit Byron with the forearm. I connected him with my shoulder in going for the tackle," he said.

"That's the way the judiciary also saw it. It was not malicious. I am not a malicious player and my track record during my test career indicates this.

"A metal plate will be a bit heavy if I want to get my arms in the air for a lineout or kickoff."

Henry said the All Blacks management was unsurprised Matfield escaped censure by a Sanzar panel comprising an Australian and two South Africans.

"We thought it was a 50-50."

- NZPA