New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has ignited a trans-Tasman war of words by accusing the Wallabies of "several acts of assault" on All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in Saturday's Test.

Clark, who was among a crowd of 47,000 as New Zealand clinched the Tri-Nations with a 34-27 win in Auckland, said she was "horrified" at Lote Tuqiri's spear tackle on McCaw.

Tuqiri was slapped with a five-match suspension for the 52nd-minute tackle - unpunished by the on-field referee - which dumped McCaw onto his head and neck but caused no injury.

"One hesitates as just someone in the stand to voice an opinion, but certainly I felt someone should have been sent off," Clark told New Zealand radio station NewstalkZB.

"I thought it was absolutely appalling. We witnessed several acts of assault against the All Blacks captain and it was very, very ugly to see."

The Australians produced a more confrontational performance at Eden Park, flanker Phil Waugh setting the tone by striking McCaw in the jaw in the 12th minute.

Fellow backrower Rocky Elsom then took McCaw out of a ruck soon afterwards as the Wallabies tried to upset the rhythm of the brilliant ball scavenger.

Wallabies coach John Connolly, nicknamed Knuckles, struggled to contain his laughter at Clark's accusations.

"I think we were the ones with the bumps and bruises and the stitches," he told AAP.

"She has to be kidding, this is a wind-up, this is a wind-up."

He responded to complaints about Tuqiri's tackle, for which the speedster will only miss one Test, with concerns about his own players.

"I suppose I think we were horrified when we thought our guy might have been tipped upside down in the line out ... this is a wind up, surely she has her tongue in her cheek," he said.

Tuqiri will miss the concluding Tri-Nations match against the Springboks on September 9 in Johannesburg following two New Zealand-South Africa matches in the coming fortnight.

NZPA reports Clark made no comment last year when former All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga and current hooker Keven Mealamu were accused of a spear tackle on Brian O'Driscoll in the opening Test of the series against the British and Irish Lions.

O'Driscoll suffered a dislocated shoulder and took no further part in the tour.

Clark is not the first Kiwi PM to get involved in the intense trans-Tasman sporting rivalry.

In 1981 Robert Muldoon accused Australia's cricket team of cowardice and said yellow was an ideal colour for their uniforms after the infamous "underarm incident", which soured relations between the two nations.

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