Rugby Tri-Nations New Zealand 16 Australia 7Australia coach Eddie Jones yesterday accepted the two-week ban on hooker Brendan Cannon for punching but believes All Blacks players should also have been in the dock.
Cannon was suspended for throwing a punch at his opposite number Keven Mealamu during New Zealand's 16-7 victory in the Tri-Nations Test in Wellington on Saturday.
"We asked that the judiciary have a look at a number of the other players but they deemed not to take any action," Jones told a media conference.
Jones said New Zealand continually flouted the law at the breakdown, provoking reaction from Cannon.
Jones had been complaining about this alleged illegal play by the All Blacks since arriving in Wellington last Thursday and said some of the New Zealanders should have been subjected to the same scrutiny by South African citing commissioner Edwin Wyngaard, who collared Cannon for the punch that led to a prolonged fracas involving a number of players.
"Everyone's seen what was involved in the incident. We're disappointed that possibly there weren't other players involved in the judiciary today," added Jones.
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen said the rulings of both Wyngaard and Irish referee Alain Rolland should not be so easily dismissed by Jones.
"The referee's got a job to do and he saw it as well as us and he didn't see a problem with it (Mealamu's action at the tackle ball)," Hansen said.
"Rugby's a competitive game, it's a contact sport, and from time to time people are going to boil over. It's no big deal, let's move on."
Mealamu, who spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin with Cannon for retaliation, denied the All Blacks were breaking rules at the breakdown and said they were not to blame for fisticuffs.
"We're not the ones throwing punches first," Mealamu said.
"We just got on a roll yesterday and just managed to hold on to the ball more than them. It's always tough not being able to hold the ball for a period of time."
New Zealand play South Africa in Christchurch in the next round of the Tri-Nations, while Australia have a week off.
Cannon will therefore only miss the Wallabies' match against South Africa in Perth on July 31st and will be back for the return New Zealand match in Sydney the following week.
Doug Howlett scored the All Blacks' only try on Saturday.
The winger, who missed the previous three Tests, against England, Argentina and the Pacific Islanders, with a dislocated shoulder, finished off a tidy backline move in the 62nd minute after intense pressure on the Wallabies line.
Inside centre Daniel Carter added the conversion and three penalties in atrocious weather to ensure the All Blacks kept the Bledisloe Cup - the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy.
Stirling Mortlock scored a try for the Wallabies when a towering Matt Giteau up-and-under was dropped by Joe Rokocoko just metres from the line, with Mortlock able to slide over unopposed.
Giteau added the conversion for the Wallabies, who spent virtually the entire match defending inside their own half.
New Zealand dominated territory and possession and should have won by more, with the scoreline flattering the Wallabies, who defended superbly throughout while the All Blacks made far too many errors in the wet.
