Focus Live: Fans react to the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final
All Blacks captain Sam Cane has become the first man to be red carded in a men’s Rugby World Cup final.
The 31-year-old was sent off for a yellow card that was upgraded after his shoulder made contact with Springboks centre Jesse Kriel in the 28th minute. Initially sent for 10 minutes in the bin, the tackle was reviewed and deemed a red by the TMO match official Tom Foley.
The deciding factor in the decision appeared to be that Cane was very upright, with no bend in the tackle at all.
“First of all that the team had to play the final with 14 men for the last 50-odd minutes. I thought the courage they showed out there tonight was incredible.
“The whole team are absolute warriors and look it’s tough. I’d like to say well done to South Africa - back to back. They’ve been a fantastic team, they’ve had a tough road to the final and they showed time and time again they find a way to win.”
The All Blacks were losing 3-9 when Cane was sent off, with Handre Pollard extending it to 3-12 in favour of South Africa a few minutes later.
It comes after All Blacks blindside flanker Shannon Frizell was given a yellow card in just the second minute after falling on Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi’s leg during a ruck.
Cane is just the 11th All Blacks player to be shown a red card.
In Cane’s hometown of Reporoa, the Woolshed Tavern opened early for the final. Ngakuru resident Jamal Treanor, watching from Cane’s hometown pub said the red card decision was “bloody shit; it’s an absolute ripoff. It’s a shocker.”
But Treanor said it is “the World Cup Final”.
”They’re not there for tiddlywinks as Tana Umaga said.”
In the 45th minute, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was sent to the sin-bin after a high head-on-head tackle on Ardie Savea. It was sent to the TMO for a review but it wasn’t deemed bad enough for a red. Kolisi was bent at the waist and it appeared the initial contact was a shoulder to Savea’s chest.
Then, with eight minutes left, winger Cheslin Kolbe was sent for 10 minutes after a deliberate knock-on near halfway. Jordie Barrett attempted to convert from the penalty – and take the lead for the All Blacks – but missed.
All Blacks red cards
Cyril Brownlie v England 1925 - Kicked an English player on the ground
Colin Meads v Scotland 1967 - Kicked Scotland five-eighth David Chisholm
Sonny Bill Williams v Lions 2017 - Connecting with his shoulder to the head of Lions wing Anthony Watson
Scott Barrett v Australia 2019 - Dangerous shoulder to the head of Wallabies captain Michael Hooper
Luke Kirkness is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He previously covered consumer affairs for the Herald and was an assistant news director in the Bay of Plenty. He won Student Journalist of the Year in 2019.
