Sky TV have backed pundit Justin Marshall after he was involved in an altercation with current All Blacks star Akira Ioane last weekend.
The pair exchanged words and former All Black scrum-half Marshall walked towards the current back-rower when things got heated. The 48-year-old is not one to mince his words when assessing his former team and let rip after they lost the series to Ireland.
Marshall never suffered defeat to Ireland in his 81-cap career but Ioane has lost against Andy Farrell's side on the two occasions that he has faced them.
The pair got into it and a clip of the late-night incident in Wellington was published online.
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Clearly, the incident cast doubt of Marshall's role as a Sky pundit moving forward, a role in which he is well-established and respected.
But Sky have come out and clarified their position, with Marshall due to travel to South Africa for the All Blacks' series against the Springboks next month.
Sky TV boss Chris Major told the New Zealand Herald: "We're obviously aware that Justin and Akira exchanged words on Saturday night," Major said.
"It's been covered in the media in recent days and we have no further comment to make on it.
"Justin is part of our Sky team travelling to South Africa to cover the two Tests, and we're looking forward to delivering great coverage and commentary for our customers on the 7th and 14th of August."
The New Zealand Rugby Union have also issued a statement of their own on the incident, which read: "Our security was managing the group in a separate area at the venue.
"We have contacted venue staff and spoken at length with players and security staff, who recall words being exchanged with another individual, as they were leaving. Our security proceeded to escort our players to their transport.
"Behaving responsibly is one of the core values in our team environment. The group were working to meet their curfew and when faced with a tricky situation, they did what they could to ensure everyone departed safely at the appropriate time."
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