Tensions are at an all‑time high between the All Blacks and Wallabies.
Back‑to‑back Bledisloe defeats for the Wallabies were one thing, but the post-match arguments between commentators, fans, and coaches have left the trans‑Tasman relationship on rocky ground.
Now, footage has emerged of Wallabies replacement halfback Nick Phipps performing an unsportsmanlike action during Saturday night's test in Wellington.
Down 29‑9 with just seven minutes on the clock, Phipps appeared to dislodge the left boot of All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa while tackling him low to the ground just outside the 22m line.
Frustrated with his side's performance, Phipps then hoisted the boot as far as he could into the Westpac Stadium crowd.
Fekitoa was then forced to hobble around bootless before the next stoppage in play.
It follows a string of incidents from the Bledisloe test which included an alleged eye‑gouge from All Black Owen Franks, accusations that Michael Cheika was not invited to a pre‑match referee meeting, and Cheika himself criticising the refereeing of Saturday's match saying he was "bitterly disappointed."
The All Blacks and the Wallabies will next face off on 22nd October at Eden Park in the third and final Bledisloe Cup test.
Source: nzherald and stuff.co
