Gregor Paul & Patrick McKendry talk red cards after the 2nd test in preparation for the 3rd Test match between the All Blacks and France. / Brett Phibbs
Fresh debates have arisen surrounding referees favouring the All Blacks after Benjamin Fall was controversially red-carded on Saturday.
Fall became the 10th player to be sent-off against the All Blacks, meanwhile, only three All Blacks have ever been sent off.
Gardner and TMO George Ayoub punished Fall with a red after he made accidental contact with Beauden Barrett contesting for a highball.
The red card was deemed unworthy by many fans and players and former All Black Cory Jane believes decisions like that are killing the game.
"We want to look after the players, but it is a contact sport," Jane told Radio Sport Mornings with Jason Pine.
"There's going to be unfortunate situations where some things don't go the way they should.
"If we try to police everything to the letter of the law, then it's going to be a boring game for people watching and probably for the people on the field."
Benjamin Fall receives a red card from Referee Angus Gardner. Photo / Getty Images
Over the past decade, World Rugby has slowly edged out the prospect of referees using common sense when judging infringements.
Totally biased because when was the last time ABs were red carded for deliberate foul play? Could have been in Grosso incident last week, but no, they Clinton out of jail again because WR suck up to ABs.
#NZFRA Red card is probably ok but what really makes me sick is the knowledge that if the roles had been reversed & an @AllBlacks player had dumped someone on the head the officials would have awarded the AB with a penalty. This very biased reffing in AB matches is killing rugby!
He joins a list of head-stompers, punchers and high-tacklers, but his mid-air collision isn't worthy of the mortification that the likes of Jamie Heaslip and Simon Shaw deserve.
A steady incline of soft red cards against players can be easily observed in the past decade and have resulted in games becoming write-offs.
Wales' 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign was ruined after their captain Sam Warburton was red-carded for a tip tackle against the French that split rugby fans.
Bismarck Du Plessis hits Dan Carter. Photo / Getty Images
In 2013 South African hooker Bismarck du Plessis was unfairly sent from the field in the 42nd minute after he received two yellow cards against the All Blacks.
He first received one in the 16th minute for one of the best tackles ever, smashing an unexpecting Dan Carter into the turf.
Du Plessis hit Carter on the shoulder in what referee Romain Poite deemed was a high tackle without any arms and deserved a yellow card - it didn't.
His second offence came in the 42nd minute after he fended off Liam Messam with his elbow, which earned him his second card and in turn a red from Poite.
Fellow Springbok Damian de Allende was sent off in a match against the All Blacks last year after he made late and high contact with Lima Sopoaga.
Sonny Bill Williams is shown a red card. Photo / Getty Images
The International Rugby Board and Sanzaar both deemed both incidents to be undeserving of yellow cards respectively.
The only three All Blacks red carded throughout their history are Cyril Brownlie, Colin Meads and Sonny Bill Williams.
Williams made history during the British and Irish Lions series when he became the first All Black since Meads in 1967 to be sent from the pitch.
Before the incidents to Fall, Allende and du Plessis, those playing against the All Blacks were sent from the field for proper, red card worthy, offences.
Jamie Heaslip was sent off in the 16th minute of a Test in 2012 for unleashing on Richie McCaw by hitting the All Blacks captain several times with his knee.
Simon Shaw was red carded in 2004 after kneeing Keith Robinson in a ruck after just 11 minutes.
Danny Grewcock was later cited for stomping Dan Carter in the head during the same game - missing out on receiving a penalty.
Referee Wayne Erickson gives Danny Grewcock the red card. Photo / Getty Images
In 1999 Frenchman Jean-Jacques Crenca was sent off for stomping on current Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson directly in front of the referee.
While he missed a card in 2004, Grewcock was ordered off the field in 1998 after half an hour for kicking Anton Oliver in the head and copped a five-week ban.
South African Andre Venter vented his frustrations on Sean Fitzpatrick by stomping on his face repeatedly in 1997. Bill Cavubati was sent off during Fiji's 71-5 drubbing in the same year.
Huw Richards was sent from the field during the 1987 World Cup after he punched Gary Whetton following an elbow he received from the Kiwi.
Wayne Shelford took matters into his own hands at the time and knocked out Richards with a swinging hook and didn't receive a card.
Benjamin Fall (France), Westpac Stadium, 2018 Damian de Allende (South Africa), Cape Town, 2017 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), Eden Park, 2013 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), New Plymouth, 2012 Simon Shaw (England), Eden Park, 2004 Jean-Jacques Crenca (France), Athletic Park, 1999 Danny Grewcock (England), Carisbrook 1998 Andre Venter (South Africa), Eden Park, 1997 Bill Cavubati (Fiji), Albany, 1997 Huw Richards (Wales), Brisbane, 1987
Red cards from the All Blacks
Cyril Brownlie (vs England), Twickenham Stadium, 1925 Colin Meads (vs Scotland), Murrayfield, 1967 Sonny Bill Williams (vs British & Irish Lions), Westpac Stadium, 2017
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