Below the line.

All Blacks forward Scott Barrett has called out Ireland’s Joe McCarthy for a ‘below the line’ hit on Damien McKenzie last night that resulted in a scuffle just minutes into the game.

It was a hugely physical battle on the night with New Zealand coming out on top with sparks flying from the get-go.

Barrett and McCarthy went at it with just two minutes on the clock with the New Zealander claiming that he may have seen the Ireland lock hit McKenzie with a shoulder to the head while he was on the ground.

The alleged incident wasn’t picked up by the match officials but Barrett was quizzed by media after the game and had plenty to say.

“I don’t usually take exception but I saw something that was below the line I guess,” Barrett said.

“And I had to make the point that not tonight are you targeting our ten like that.

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

“From where I saw it, it looked like it was around his head and whether it was or not, I’m not too sure.

“I guess I took exception to that in that moment, It may not have been but I’m not too sure.”

“It looked like a ruck on the ground from where I saw it, it looked like a bit of a shoulder to a man on the ground who is our ten so yeah.”