The front page of the New Zealand Herald which depicts British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland as a clown

Lions coach Warren Gatland has been caricatured as a clown in the New Zealand press after "unforgivable" questioning of the All Blacks' morals.

Gatland's claims New Zealand had illegally targeted scrum-half Conor Murray's standing leg in Saturday's first Test moved All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen to call into a radio station to respond, labelling the Lions boss "desperate".

Gatland has now twice been portrayed as a clown figure by the New Zealand Herald

The New Zealand Herald has now drawn up Gatland as a cartoon clown, a treatment previously given to Australia head coach Michael Cheika.

Writing in the Herald about Gatland's comments, sports writer Gregor Paul wrote: "Implying the All Blacks are dirty is the unforgivable sin. Questioning their playing ethics and morals is a line that can't be crossed."

Will Greenwood says the war of words between Gatland and Steve Hansen has been blown out of proportion Will Greenwood says the war of words between Gatland and Steve Hansen has been blown out of proportion

Asked for a reaction to it at a media conference in Wellington on Tuesday, New Zealand assistant coach Ian Foster said: "You'd have to ask the New Zealand Herald."

Then pushed for his take on it, Foster added: "I wouldn't like that.

"It doesn't change a thing. I wasn't even aware. That's why I am not going to comment on that particular question.

"It doesn't make any difference for us. We are preparing on our game.

"You know, there are a few little issues floating around, but at the end of the day this is going to be a titanic Test match, isn't it?

"We are 1-0 up, but we know there is going to be a very desperate team [Lions] down the road, and if we are not desperate - and match that and better that - it's going to be a hard night for us."

Last November, Gatland admitted he was "embarrassed" as a Kiwi to see the Herald mock up Cheika as a clown - only to end up receiving the same treatment himself.

Gatland has now twice been portrayed as a clown figure by the New Zealand Herald Gatland has now twice been portrayed as a clown figure by the New Zealand Herald

The Herald's second clowning of Lions boss Gatland will not sit well with the tourists - who have constantly drawn the distinction between their reception in the home press and the warm welcome they have been afforded by the Kiwi public.

Foster added: "When there is a lot at stake, often there's lots of noise around games and people try and chuck things at you from different sides, but at the end of the day it doesn't change a thing.

"Our job as coaches is to put all that stuff to one side. I guess we probably give a little bit, they give a little bit, and that's all part of things when stakes are high.

"So he [Gatland] is doing what he thinks he needs to do to prepare his team and we will do what we need to do. It's part of the environment when you play a big series and this is a big series.

"People are just trying to find that edge in different sorts of ways and I wouldn't read too much more into it than just that.

"I don't know whether people like it or dislike it, but it is what it is. We don't take it as personal, it's just what some people do.

"If we start sulking about that, we will get upset and distracted by it. Isn't that the objective of it?"