Mako Vunipola with an off the ball hit on Anton Lienert-Brown. Photo / Sky Television
Mako Vunipola with an off the ball hit on Anton Lienert-Brown. Photo / Sky Television
An off-the-ball incident involving giant Lions front rower Mako Vunipola in the first test has come to light.
Footage has emerged of an incident involving Vunipola in the 34th minute of the All Blacks' 30-15 win at Eden Park last Saturday.
It shows Vunipola illegally and dangerously barrelling into AllBlacks midfielders Sonny Bill Williams and Anton Lienert-Brown during a ruck.
The ball has already been cleared from the breakdown by halfback Aaron Smith as Vunipola collides with Williams and Lienert-Brown with a late shoulder charge.
The footage has emerged during a week of sniping between rival coaches Warren Gatland and Steve Hansen.
Gatland fired the first shot on Sunday by calling into question the All Blacks' tactics in trying to shut down the influence of Lions halfback Conor Murray during the first test.
All Blacks loose forward Jerome Kaino was singled out for attention around alleged late charges at the feet of Murray after he had kicked.
Sonny Bill Williams can see Vunipola coming and braces for the hit.
But Lienert-Brown ends up wearing Vunipola's shoulder as he steps between the pair.
The ball is long gone from Aaron Smith's hands at this point.
The suggestion of a deliberate foul tactics did not sit well with Hansen who fired back a strong volley of criticism at the Lions' Kiwi coach on Tuesday.
The All Blacks have not raised the Vunipola incident, although they are no doubt aware of it. No action can be taken by the match citing commissioner as the deadline has passed.
Meanwhile, Gatland's contention on Tuesday that it was the referees who raised the subject of Kaino's charge at Murray's feet with him and not vice versa is contradicted by an earlier statement.
On Sunday, the day after the first test, Gatland told reporters he would be seeking "clarity" from the referees on the alleged tactics against Murray.
