New Zealand will have to go with just 14 men for victory at the Rugby World Cup after captain Sam Cane received the first ever red card in a final.
The All Blacks skipper was initially shown a yellow card and sin-binned for his challenge on Jesse Kriel, hitting his opponent with his shoulder and making contact with Kriel’s head.
England referee Wayne Barnes – who is in charge of an all-English team – dismissed the player, but Cane had to wait for the final verdict when the incident was reviewed by the bunker reviewer.
After some nerve-wracking moments for Ian Foster’s side, the card was upgraded and the tackle was deemed very dangerous.
Remarkably, Cane’s red is the first ever awarded during a Rugby World Cup, meaning New Zealand will break new ground after half-time.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane will have to watch the rest of the Rugby World Cup final from the stands
The player picked up a yellow card which was later upgraded to a red card just before half time
Cane’s high tackle on Jesse Kriel (right) was deemed very dangerous by the bunker control officer
The All Blacks may have thought they were out of danger after Shannon Frizzell escaped an upgrade for his challenge on Bongi Mbonambi.
Just minutes into the match, the South African hooker entered a ruck to challenge for the ball.
However, upon the breakdown, Frizzell made no attempt to roll away and instead appeared to grab the 32-year-old by the neck and drag the South African away before landing awkwardly on the back of his leg.
Following a TMO review, Wayne Barnes showed Frizzell the yellow card, after which a bunker review took place to decide whether it would be upgraded to a red card, but the player was able to return to the field before half-time.
All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick was realistic with his thoughts on Cane’s half-time dismissal.
“When you look at it like that in real time, there’s no doubt it’s a red card,” Fitzpatrick said on ITV. “But we have to get on with it.”