A clearly devastated Sam Cane has hailed the courage of his side, who were forced to play over half of today’s Rugby World Cup final with 14 men after he had a yellow card upgraded to red.
Cane, one of the stand-outs in New Zealand’s run to the final, was too high when he tackled South Africa's Jesse Kriel around the head in the 29th minute at Stade de France.
He was yellow-carded by referee Wayne Barnes, who reversed a scrum awarded to the All Blacks in front of the South Africa posts.
Barnes also asked the bunker to review whether the yellow should be upgraded – they felt it did – so Cane’s night was over.
While the All Blacks refused to buckle, they just couldn’t get in front, despite two yellow cards to the Springboks and Beauden Barrett’s unconverted try.
Following South Africa’s 12-11 victory, Cane told Sky he was “extremely gutted and disappointed”.
"First of all the fact the boys had to play with 14 men for the last 50-odd minutes. The courage that they showed out there tonight was incredible, the whole team was absolute warriors.
"It’s tough, I’d like to say well done to South Africa. Back-to-back. They’ve been a fantastic team and had a heck of a tough road to the final and showed time and time again they find a way to win. Well done South Africa."
Influence of officials
The TMO's ruling was one of many moments in the match that left fans annoyed, feeling the officials held too much sway over the match.
Among them was Sky's Israel Dagg, who didn't hold back in the studio post-match.
"This is our showpiece event that is being overshadowed by a couple of people, I had other names for them, that is just taking it into their own hands, taking the glory and gloss away from the players who have worked their absolute butts off to get out there," Dagg said.
"I'm honestly just fed up now. I know I'm going to sound like a sore loser here, but this is our showcase piece event that is being overshadowed by people out there in the middle, that is putting apprehension in the minds of our players and we've seen a snore-feast."
The result means South Africa are now four-time World Cup winners, one ahead of New Zealand.
Cane was the first player to get a red card in a men's World Cup final.
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