by Brendan Cole
Graham Henry has accused Australia out-half Quade Cooper of deliberately kneeing New Zealand captain Richie McCaw in the face during Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash.
The All Blacks lost a thrilling game 25-20 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Cooper was cited over a 54th minute incident in which his knee connected with McCaw’s head when the New Zealand player was on the ground.
He was cited but then cleared with a judicial officer deciding that "on the balance of probability" he had not acted deliberately.
Speaking at a press event in Auckland, New Zealand head coach Henry said: "I thought he deliberately kneed Richie McCaw in the face and I think everybody else did too.
"I'm very surprised at the result of the judicial hearing, let's put it that way, but let's not dwell on that there's much more important things to focus on and we need to move on and focus on the things that we can control."
McCaw and Cooper have clashed in the past and some in New Zealand believe the concussion-prone back-rower is being targetted by Australia.
Commenting on the decision, he said: "Mate, nothing surprises me with judiciaries these days. When you end up in there, you don't know what's going to happen sometimes.
"He got cited, which perhaps he deserved, but they decided and that's what happened. You just have to get on with it."
On what is behind the repeated clashes with Cooper, he added: "I have absolutely no idea. I have absolutely nothing against the guy at all. I never get personal on the field because, if you start doing that, you will make decisions that aren't best for the team.
"There have been a couple of times when we have had a bit of push and shove but, whether he's into that, I don't know. Certainly for me, it doesn't worry me at all."
