“That’s how they play.”

Dan McFarland, the assistant coach of the Scotland rugby team, has called out All Blacks captain Kieran Read on his actions during Saturday’s fixture, labeling him as “cynical”.

Scotland pushed the world champions all the way in a cracking Test match as New Zealand edged the game 22-17, but things could have been very different had All Blacks captain Kieran Read gone to this bin for a blatant act of foul play.

Scotland’s constant pressure in the second-half resulted in Sam Cane and Wyatt Crockett spending time in the bin. Crockett was pinged for going off his feet, but should have been joined in the bin by Read as he deliberately slapped the ball of of Jonny Gray’s hands during the next phase.

McFarland says Read’s actions were cynical and say that’s ‘how New Zealand play.’

“That was just cynical wasn’t it,” said McFarland of Read’s actions.

“It should have been a yellow card, quite possibly a try, and quite possibly a penalty try. I can see that [all those options] would be something for discussion, but that’s not up for discussion now is it?

“New Zealand are an extremely competitive side and everybody in world rugby knows that when you get the ball into their 22 the very last thing they want to do is concede a try. That’s how they play. They’re very streetwise, they’re very clever.”

[Telegraph]