All Blacks: IRB deny interfering to get Carter cited

The citing of Dan Carter for a dangerous tackle has caused some ire. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks arrived in London this morning, harbouring suspicions the IRB hijacked the judicial process to make sure Dan Carter was cited.

They made inquiries last week after seeing the citing commissioner Scott Nowland and IRB chief executive Mike Miller in discussion at the after match function following the test with Wales.

Shortly afterwards, rumour surfaced that the IRB had put pressure on Nowland to cite Carter for his high tackle on the now famous reserve halfback Martin Roberts. All Black manager Darren Shand confronted the IRB only to be told the process had run its natural course with no interference.

IRB referee manager Paddy O'Brien confirmed this line: "I was there when the citing commissioner reached his decision and it is absolutely not true that there was any pressure applied on him or that he was asked to reach that decision."

Publicly the All Blacks said they accepted Carter's decision - that it was disappointing but that they received a fair hearing.

Privately they are perplexed by how the squeaky-clean Carter, in his first transgression, was suspended for one week for a tackle that wasn't even the worst in the game.

There is a little anger, too, still simmering below the surface about the whole saga. Carter's reputation has been needlessly blemished to satisfy various political agendas.

The situation became farcical and there was no other way for the All Blacks to feel but the victims of a northern hemisphere old boy network flexing its muscles.

The unspoken belief in the All Blacks camp is that Wales coach Warren Gatland goaded the IRB into taking action. He made inflammatory comments that led to the IRB feeling they had to prove they had the courage to discipline the All Blacks and their biggest name. They knew there was little chance Carter would play in Italy so a one-week suspension for a game he would miss anyway was going to appease Wales and show the IRB had some spine.

What irks the most is the certainty that, had New Zealand been playing England this morning rather than Italy, none of this would ever have happened.

The IRB would not have been so keen to see Carter sit out a potentially explosive clash against England's Jonny Wilkinson. The two best first fives in the world going head-to-head at Twickenham - that generates the type of interest rugby bosses are desperate to see.

This week is the All Blacks opportunity to make their own statement in reply - the chance to remind the IRB they are still the biggest ticket item the game has. There would be no better way to remind the game's authority of New Zealand's standing and importance than thumping England in front of a packed Twickenham.

The events of last week add a little extra motivation into what is an already determined squad. A week in Wales and all the drama over Carter was a stark reminder of how nauseating the northern hemisphere perspective on the game can be. The Welsh media spent six days building their own side up with little balance or perspective. The reaction of Gatland and his coaching team was to then blame someone else for the loss.

Meanwhile, over the border in England, there was an unrealistic sense of expectation about the clash with the Wallabies. The return of Jonny Wilkinson was not going to suddenly enable England to play fluid, enterprising football. Wilkinson gave them more direction; more confidence and more accuracy with their kicking game.

But if you don't play with the ball in hand at club level and develop passing, running and handling skills - then you can't suddenly do it at test level just because Jonny is back.

There is a real sense that the All Blacks have turned a corner since hitting the nadir in Hamilton. Their work in training is sharp. Their lineout is returning to health. Their scrummaging is improving and their work under the high ball is massively improved.

Coach Graham Henry has a handle now on how he wants his side to play. The focus is not so much now on physical development of the players - although that remains an important part - it is on skills development.

Henry, always an innovator, has found his edge again. He can see that immaculate execution of basic skills is going to be vital in the next few years. His All Black side are taking giant steps forward on that front and would love nothing more than to take another at Twickenham this Sunday (NZT) to remind the world that the balance of power still lies in the southern hemisphere.