Picture: for illustration purposes
In a disheartening turn of events, distraught All Blacks captain, Sam Cane, received a red card during the Rugby World Cup final with South Africa this Saturday. In a closely contested encounter, Cane's sending-off eventually saw the match ending with a narrow 12-11 defeat in favour of South Africa.
Cane, 31, had originally been issued a yellow card for a high tackle on Jesse Kriel but the decision was upgraded to a red card by referee Wayne Barnes. The decision left Cane visibly astounded, resigned to watch the remainder of the game from the sidelines.
Hopes of helming the All Blacks to a fourth title were shattered as Cane became the first player to receive a red card in a Rugby World Cup final. Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who himself had been yellow-carded early in the second half, lifted the trophy instead marking South Africa’s record fourth title.
This red card incident has sparked conversation about fairness and decision-making in the sport. All Blacks' head coach, Ian Foster, also voiced his bemusement over how Cane received a red card while Kolisi did not have his yellow card upgraded for a similar tackle.
Regardless, Cane reflected positively on his teammates' performance, expressing how proud he was of their resilience in the face of such adversity. While expressing disappointment, he acknowledged that the red card was something he would have to live with indefinitely.
Foster, whose contract tenure with the All Blacks will not be extended, praised both teams for an engaging match. He lauded the Springboks for holding their ground and also acknowledged the hard-fought performance from his players despite being a man down.