Gatland asks officials to protect Murray

Warren Gatland has called on match officials to better protect Conor Murray after the Lions scrum-half was hit late by the All Blacks after box-kicking.

Murray, 28, is no stranger to getting plenty of attention from opposing forwards but for the Munster star, the opening Test against New Zealand was reminiscent of the treatment dished out to him by Glasgow Warriors last January, when he spoke out about his standing leg being targeted by No.8 Josh Strauss.

At Eden Park on Saturday, Murray was hit late by flanker Jerome Kaino after a box kick and was upended, while there were also late pushes by Brodie Retallick in the fifth and 38th minutes, the latter one prompting referee Jaco Peyper to ask for a check from the TMO, Australia’s George Ayoub.