Scott Barrett unimpressed by ‘below the line’ Joe McCarthy incident during All Blacks win

Scott Barrett took exception to some play by Ireland's Joe McCarthy.

Ireland versus New Zealand promised a whole lot more than what it delivered, but there were at least some flashpoints.

One of which came just minutes into the game when Joe McCarthy and New Zealand second-row Scott Barrett found themselves in a fiery tussle.

The match officials didn't investigate the scuffle at the time, but Barrett was later quizzed by journalists about the incident post-match.

“I don’t usually take exception but I saw something that was below the line I guess," he told the Irish Independent.

"And I had to make the point that not tonight are you targeting our ten like that."

Asked to clarify his comments, Barrett explained that he saw McCarthy put in a 'below the line' hit on Man of the Match Damian McKenzie at the bottom of a ruck.

“I was getting up from a ruck and from where I saw it, it looked like Damian was on the ground and I think Joe cleaned him up.

“From where I saw it, it looked like it was around his head and whether it was or not, I’m not too sure.

"I guess I took exception to that in that moment, It may not have been but I’m not too sure."

“It looked like a ruck on the ground from where I saw it, it looked like a bit of a shoulder to a man on the ground who is our ten so yeah.”

Head coach Scott Robertson sat beside Barrett during the press conference and joked "It's like giving evidence, isn't it?!' as his player answered a series of follow-up questions.

Ireland will be hoping there will be no citation coming Joe McCarthy's way in advance of next Friday's clash against Argentina.