Tuesday 27 June 2017 10:08, UK
Sir Clive Woodward believes Warren Gatland has "got it wrong" over his criticism of Conor Murray's treatment in the first Test defeat to New Zealand.
Gatland told a press conference on Saturday that he was unhappy with the way New Zealand targeted scrum-half Murray during the first Test in Auckland.
The Lions coach said the Kiwis deliberately and dangerously tackled Murray's standing leg whenever the Munster player attempted to launch a long kick.
But Woodward, who guided England to World Cup glory in 2003, says Gatland should focus on the task at hand ahead of Saturday's second Test, insisting he saw nothing wrong with New Zealand's approach to dealing with Murray.
He told the Daily Mail: "Warren Gatland has had a really good tour but he's got it wrong over this Conor Murray 'row'. There is no case to answer and the Lions should move on quickly because there are much more pressing matters this week.
"Watching the game I saw nothing untoward. I don't recall Murray reacting to any of the challenges - and none of the fans around me mentioned anything.
"After the match, there was no sense of controversy from former players or coaches that I spoke with - on either side of the fence.
"The idea of some alleged pre-meditated attempt to injure Murray had not registered until those comments by Gatland. I saw no injury, no offence and no hint of a citing."
Woodward added: "Did the All Blacks target Murray in the sense of him being a big player whose box-kicking needed to be stopped at source? Yes, like every side in the world would target such a player.
"Did they target Murray as an opponent they wanted to deliberately injure? No, I don't believe that for a second."
