"I don’t really understand what’s going on with the breakdown" - Tadhg Beirne

Tadhg Beirne has expressed his bemusement of the officiating at the rucks in the first test between the All Blacks and Ireland at Eden Park on Saturday.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell refused to blame referee Karl Dickson for his side’s heavy 42-19 defeat, but his disappoint in the post match media conference was clear to see as he said that would seek clarification.

Beirne wasn't as impactful as he usually is at the breakdown and said that he found it difficult to get to grips with Dickson’s officiating.

“I don’t really understand what’s going on with the breakdown personally, because this time last year they were giving penalties for fun in terms of poaching and now it’s like you have to be in there for 20 seconds and come out with the ball, otherwise you’re not getting the ball,” Beirne said.

“Probably in at the side is something they were looking at for a while and it’s just one of those areas, it’s a tough one.

“These are tough areas for referees to ref and it’s a bit frustrating when you’re a poacher and you probably feel like you’re on the ball longer than you probably are and we think we should be coming away with more.

“That’s just the way the game is and you probably have to deal with that and play to how the refs are reffing again. That’s probably something we’ll have to look at too.”

Beirne made his return after an injury that he picked up in the Six Nations' clash against Scotland and thanked Farrell for backing him for a call up after he missed the latter stages of the season with Munster.

“After the Scotland game I thought I’d be back in two weeks and it turned into four weeks, into six weeks, into 12 weeks,” Beirne said.

“I was kind of touch and go whether I’d be here at all and I had chats with the medical staff whether it was the right decision or not. But I was training towards the end of the season and I was ready to go for Munster, but unfortunately we lost to Ulster.

“I was very keen to be here and thankfully Faz [Andy Farrell] decided to take me out.”