All Blacks assistant coach John Plumtree has heaped acid on referee Angus Gardner to deal with Australia’s off-the-ball tactics in the second Bledisloe Cup Test on Sunday.

Firing up a long-standing rivalry with Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, Plumtree inferred the Australian tactics in the first Test in Wellington last Sunday were typical of Rennie-coached teams.

While the All Blacks expect illegal tactics, they also thought first-Test referee Paul Williams should have done a better job policing them.

All Blacks five-eighth Richie Mo’unga was a particular target for the Wallabies and is suffering a shoulder injury as a result of a couple of late hits – one by blindside flanker Harry Wilson and another from winger Filipo Daugunu.

Wallabies No.10 James O’Connor admitted his teammates targeted Mo’unga.

“He’s a creative player and a lot of line breaks come off his foot speed and what he can do manipulating the defence around the fourth or fifth defender,” O’Connor said.

“So, for us it was identifying that and sending a few our hitmen in there to try to exploit it.”

Plumtree said he noted similarities with how Rennie coached the Chiefs from 2012 to 2017.

“And we knew that was coming but that type of play on the field has to be dealt with by the ref,” the ex-Hurricanes coach said.

“There were several occasions when there were off-the-ball incidents.”

Plumtree said the All Blacks management hadn’t talked with the referees before Bledisloe II but there’s no doubt they’ve got the message now.

Gardner, an Australian, will take the whistle at Eden Park with Williams on the sideline while Australian Ben O’Keeffe will again be the second touch judge and New Zealand’s Mike Frazer has been retained as TMO.

In the equivalent of an angry fan asking if the referee needed glasses, Plumtree put pressure on Gardner and his team to keep their eyes open.

“They see what they see, you know. If Paul missed stuff, then he’s missed it. But if it’s a consistent habit that he’s seeing and it’s not being looked after, then we’re disappointed.”

If the tactics continued in the second Test, Plumtree said his players would adjust but would refrain from retaliating.

“There were some late charges and one or two other incidents but All Blacks don’t cry – we just get on with it and we adjust to how the game’s being refereed.”

Plumtree said Beauden Barrett “played a role” at training and at this stage was fit for selection after missing the first Test through injury.

Lock Sam Whitelock is in some doubt with a head knock.