Australian commentator Phil Kearns believes the Hurricanes didn't show the Lions enough respect after winning the Super Rugby final in Wellington on Saturday night.

Australian rugby commentator Phil Kearns has had a dig at the Hurricanes about their lack of modesty after winning their maiden Super Rugby title.

Following the Hurricanes' 20-3 win over Lions in the Super Rugby final in Wellington on Saturday, Kearns, who played 67 games for Australia, didn't think the Hurricanes paid the Lions enough respect in their after-match speech.

"Talk about gracious speeches, I'd love the New Zealanders, when they win something, just to acknowledge the opposition," Kearns said on Fox Sports. "Two World Cups and a Super Rugby title, I wonder if it's a tactic.

Brendon Thorne Former Wallaby turned commentator Phil Kearns.

"Do you think they all breed that in New Zealand? We're not going to acknowledge people we defeat."

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Kearns' fellow commentator and former Australian player Rod Kafer said New Zealanders like to keep things internal.

However, while the Lions were not acknowledged in skipper Dane Coles' post match on-stage comments, it was notable at later interviews that he and other Hurricanes players and coaches all complimented the Lions on their performance.

Assistant coach John Plumtree also made a point of shaking the hands of the Lions players after the match.

Seen by some as one-eyed, Kearns may obviously still be hurting after the All Blacks beat the Wallabies 34-17 in the World Cup final in London last year.

Injured Hurricanes prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen made a quick reply to Kearns' latest outburst, drawing reference to the former hooker's reference to the Hurricanes' 52-10 loss to the Brumbies in the opening round this year.

"They look fat and they look slow and they look unfit," Kearns said at the time. Toomaga-Allen has posted a tweet, repeating the quote but adding a caricature of "Superman" Coles accepting the trophy.

Il just leave this here. 🐸☕️ pic.twitter.com/HyKG7HRAGB — Jeff Toomaga-Allen (@Jeff_TAllen) August 7, 2016

When the Highlanders beat the Waratahs in the Super Rugby semifinals last year, Kearns said referee Craig Joubert had a "shocker".

He also said the Hurricanes looked fat after they lost 52-10 in the opening round of Super Rugby this year to the Brumbies.

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