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New Zealand rugby legend Zinzan Brooke has made a shock attack on Scotland coach Frank Hadden - identifying him as another culprit responsible for extending New Zealand's World Cup woes.
Brooke launched his pungent criticism of Hadden, who played Scotland's reserves against the All Blacks in Rugby World Cup pool play, just before this morning's test against Scotland. He accused the Scot of undermining New Zealand before they encountered France in the sudden death phase, refereed by England's Wayne Barnes.
The latter became the object of criticism following the All Blacks' defeat but now Brooke has spread the web of blame to include Hadden.
New Zealand beat Scotland 40-0 but from Hadden's perspective the tactic worked - his rested top side beat fellow would-be quarter-finalists Italy.
Hadden was heavily criticised at the time and a still-bitter Brooke demanded the All Blacks exact revenge in this morning's test.
Brooke hoped the All Blacks thrashed Hadden's men, believing that soft group game meant the All Blacks headed into the quarters without facing a genuine challenge.
"I want New Zealand to beat the hell out of Scotland," Brooke wrote in his BBC column. "People have questioned why the All Blacks are not playing their strongest side but, for me, the Scots are getting a taste of their own medicine," the 58-test forward continued.
"I lost interest in Scottish rugby because of what they did at the World Cup last year. To field a second-string side in a pool match was an absolute joke. They effectively conceded the game by resting their top team and I don't think it helped their cause or the All Blacks' cause.
"The All Blacks were underdone in the knockout stages because they didn't have a decent hit-out."
Scotland were eliminated by Argentina while the All Blacks lost 20-18 to the French - their worst finish at a World Cup.
Barnes' influence on the outcome was significant after he missed a forward pass leading to the match-winning try, while the All Blacks were astonished not to receive a solitary penalty during a second half which they dominated. The penalty count was eventually 10-2 in France's favour.
Despite being vilified Barnes has been untouchable. But for Brooke, retribution can and should be taken against the Scots.
"I'd be quite happy for the All Blacks to kick their butts, frankly, as payback for the World Cup," he said.
He fully expected his revenge mission to be executed: "Even if New Zealand don't have their top team out, they should still be good enough to stick another 40 points on them."
There was no repeat of another controversial element of that last meeting - confusing jerseys.
The Scots wore navy blue with gray trim and New Zealand ran on in their now defunct silver and black change strip. Scotland wore white this morning, New Zealand the traditional all black.
Meanwhile if Scotland's coach was copping it from a Kiwi, England's new manager, Martin Johnson, was copping it from a former coach, Sir Clive Woodward.
He guided England to World Cup success in 2003, flounced out of Twickenham in protest at his lack of access to leading players and failed to become elite director of rugby. Now he has questioned the Rugby Football Union's decision to install Johnson, his captain five years ago, as manager.
"You have to be a warrior in this role, but you also have to be able to play chess," Woodward said on television. "Martin is a warrior, and we're about to find out if he can play chess. I think we'd all be a little more confident if he had spent three or four years coaching at Leicester or somewhere, and then come in with a proven track record. If he thinks for one minute that he's not quite qualified to be where he is, it will be exposed by Warren Gatland [the head coach of Wales] and Graham Henry [All Blacks] - people who have been round the block. They will spot it and they will go for him when the moment is right, even if he is Martin Johnson."
Meanwhile, Johnson's choice as captain, Saracens lock Steve Borthwick, is happy with the new agreement between the RFU and clubs giving coaches greater access to players.
England's build-up to the Pacific Islands at Twickenham - the first in a four-match programme - rivals the preparation enjoyed by Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, who they meet over the next three weeks.
- NZPA, INDEPENDENT
