Scott Barrett takes exception to 'below the line' shot from Joe McCarthy

New Zealand captain Scott Barrett believes Joe McCarthy took a cheap shot on Damian McKenzie during Ireland's Autumn Nations Series loss at Aviva Stadium.

Andy Farrell's side went down 23-13 as the All Blacks ended Ireland’s 19-game winning run in Dublin.

In the 13th minute, lock McCarthy was attempting to clear out a ruck when McKenzie and Rónan Kelleher were grappling for the ball.

After the referee blew his whistle for a knock-on against the out-half, Barrett came running into grab the Leinster forward, unhappy with what he saw as an illegal action.

"Yeah, I don't usually take exception but I saw something that was, I guess, below the line for me," said the All Blacks second row.

"I guess you had to make a point of 'you're not targeting our 10 tonight.'

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

"From where I saw, it looked like it was around his head. Whether it was or not, I'm not too sure, but I guess I took exception in that moment. It may not have been, I'm not too sure.

"It looked like a bit of a shoulder to a man on the ground, who is our 10."

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Meanwhile, Rieko Ioane decided to keep the fire burning in his spat with former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton.

The Kiwi centre was singled out by Sexton in his recent autobiography with the former out-half detailing their post-match exchange following Ireland's loss to New Zealand at the World Cup last year.

Soon after the match last night, Ioane posted