Former Ireland lock Neil Francis has launched a scathing attack on the All Blacks, saying the two-time defending champions "cheat with impunity".
"New Zealand are difficult enough to beat at the best of times but because they cheat with impunity and such breathtaking cynicism and referees let them do it, they are even more difficult to overcome," Francis wrote in a column for Irish publication Independent.Ie.
In his column, Francis, who played 36 tests for Ireland between 1987 and 1996, analysed the All Blacks pool match with Canada, which took place last Wednesday.
Francis insists the All Blacks "don't have any special moves", while he also went on to call All Blacks prop Atunaisa Moli; "Moli Atunaisa".
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He was critical of the likes of first-five / fullback Beauden Barrett, referring to a tackle he made to stop his Canadian opposite Peter Nelson from scoring.
"When he made the tackle, Barrett rolled over onto his side of the tackle area - it was the only law he observed in the next 15 seconds," Francis wrote for the Independent.
"He did not get back to his feet, he did not detach from the tackled player, he flopped on Nelson, never made any attempt to roll away and kept his hand on the ball for 15 seconds. Five penalties rolled into one for me."
Francis also criticised referee Romain Poite, saying he was "oblivious to an act of larceny".
"They [the All Blacks] cheat, they cheat, and they cheat!" Francis wrote for the Independent. "And they are let away with it time after time!"
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