New Zealand captain Scott Barrett says he "took exception" to Ireland lock Joe McCarthy in the All Blacks' 23-13 win in Dublin.

Barrett squared up to McCarthy early in the match after he felt the Irish player had "cleaned up" fly-half Damian McKenzie while he was on the ground after a ruck.

McKenzie kicked 18 points as the All Blacks ended Ireland's 19-game unbeaten run in Dublin.

"I don't usually take exception but I saw something that I guess was below the line for me," Barrett said when asked to explain the incident.

"I had to make a point of not to be targeting our 10 like that."

Barrett said he felt "he had to defend McKenzie", who he believed was targeted by the Irish players.

Play was paused as players ran to McCarthy and Barrett before the game was resumed by referee Nic Berry without any sanctions.

"From where I saw it, it looked like it was around his head. Whether it was or not, I'm not too sure.

"It just looked like a ruck, he was on the ground. From where I saw it it looked like a bit of a shoulder to a man on the ground, who was our ten.

"I guess I took exception to that in the moment. It may not have been."