'My eyes were fine': Wallabies lock defends All Black prop following backlash

Wallabies lock Kane Douglas has come to All Black Owen Franks' defence as the controversy surrounding eye-gouging allegations continues.

Douglas says he was uninjured when Franks' hand repeatedly made contact with his face at a lineout drive and wasn't aware the act had created a stir until well after the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Wellington, which New Zealand won 29-9.

There was no citing over the incident, attracting criticism from some commentators who believed the veteran New Zealand tighthead had overstepped the line of foul play.

Douglas told Brisbane's Courier Mail he was unaware of any problem at the time.

"I probably didn't realise how bad it looked until after the game," he said.

"My eyes were fine and it all happened so quickly I was on to the next thing in the game."

Franks' hand repeatedly made contact with the face of Douglas in full view of French referee Romain Poite, who took no action.

Douglas, 27, said it felt like a typical moment in the tight exchanges of a Test.

"It was an All Black trying to stop me driving through the maul, arms everywhere and everything happening in a few seconds.

"I've got no issue at all but obviously you want to be protecting the eyes of players."

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika highlighted the incident immediately after the Test and said he expected action to be taken.

Douglas' comments come after former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll took a swipe at New Zealand fans over the incident involving Franks.

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In a tweet early on Wednesday morning NZ time, O'Driscoll said: "You lot are so blinded by your beloved team. It bangs of not having a whole lot else."

Although the tweet was deleted, an All Black fan on Twitter managed to repost the offending message beforehand.

"Let's have a look at what Brian O'Driscoll really thinks of New Zealand, and the tweet that he deleted," Paul (@rugga13) posted.

The spat with fans started when O'Driscoll said it was a "farce" that Franks was not cited for the incident.

"It's an absolute sham @WorldRugby," he said. "Makes a mockery of citing."

In later tweets he insinuated that the All Blacks get preferential treatment.

He was supported by other famous rugby players, including Welsh legend Jonathan Davies.

However, Kiwis on Twitter were angered by the comment.

"Check all the angles before being judge and jury on Twitter. The officials did," Clyde Rosanowski wrote.

And some used the spat to remind O'Driscoll of history.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen on Sunday supported the match citing commissioner's decision not to cite Franks following an incident in the Bledisloe Cup Test win in Wellington.

The prop's fingers appeared to make contact with the eyes of Australian lock Kane Douglas in a seventh-minute maul.

But SANZAAR has deemed there were no incidents from the match that reached a red card threshold, meaning Franks will be free to play out the remainder of the All Blacks' Rugby Championship campaign.