Connolly, Campese get stuck into Henry

All Blacks coach Graham Henry and Wallabies coach John Connolly. Pictures / Christchurch Star, Ryan Pierse

SYDNEY - Wallabies coach John Connolly has hit out at All Blacks counterpart Graham Henry's call for the International Rugby Board to take a stronger line on attacks on his players.

Former Australian winger David Campese has joined Connolly in putting the boot into Henry over his comments.

Connolly laughed off claims that All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and playmaker, first five-eighth Daniel Carter, have been unfairly targeted by Australia and South Africa during the Tri-Nations series.

"This is a great initiative from Graham, and the first step involves looking and cleaning up his own backyard," Connolly told the Sydney Morning Herald.

When asked whether he was surprised that the All Blacks were still angered that Wallaby flanker Phil Waugh had allegedly targeted McCaw in Auckland, Connolly said: "That is crazy. All you have to do is drag out a tape of a Hurricanes-Crusaders Super 14 match, and watch Jerry Collins and Richie McCaw go hammer and tongs at each other. And I didn't see any criticism of Collins after those games.

"Referees do have to watch all this closely because teams get frustrated because he (McCaw) is so often offside. He takes off from the scrum early, and continually rolls over the ball. So there's a huge onus on the referees."

Henry said this week he would approach the IRB after this weekend's Tri-Nations test against the Springboks and insisted it reviewed its procedures on foul play.

His comments came after Springboks lock Victor Matfield escaped being cited for a high tackle on All Blacks first five-eighth Daniel Carter in Pretoria last weekend.

The tackle also went unpunished by referee Alan Lewis of Ireland.

The previous week McCaw was hit across the nose by Waugh's forearm, an incident missed by both referee Chris White and the citing commissioner.

"There's been some incidents in the Tri-Nations this year that I think shouldn't be in rugby," Henry said.

"You've all seen those situations, and I think there's a process to go through that they need to be dealt with.

"I intend to talk to the IRB about that - that's the right channel."

Campese accused Henry of having a short memory.

"I don't remember hearing a peep out of Mr Henry when Tana Umaga picked up the British and Irish Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll and drove him into the ground in the opening test of last year's series," Campese said in his Daily Telegraph column.

"Almost any non-New Zealander who witnessed it was convinced Umaga had spear tackled the world-class centre."

Campese said it was a bit rich for Henry to then cry foul over the Waugh forearm and the Matfield hit on Carter.

"Please spare us, the bleeding heart stuff Graham.

"You might be the best side in the world. A team that has won 15 tests straight and honing in on the world record of 17 held by England.

"But being No 1 does not give you the right to treat the rest with contempt."

Springboks coach Jake White also criticised Henry for his comments this week.

- NZPA