All Blacks coach backs new Red Card Rule

Ex SuperSport

New Zealand coach Ian Foster said a new rule allowing red-carded players to be replaced stood vindicated after Jordie Barrett was controversially sent off Sunday in the Bledisloe Cup finale in Perth. Under revamped Rugby Championship rules, teams can replace a red-carded player 20 minutes after the sending off. The new rule was trialled in Super Rugby and had been heavily pushed by New Zealand.

Foster said he was "pretty surprised" with Barrett's red card after the fullback's boot came into contact with Marika Koroibete's face while leaping for the ball. "He just lost balance and kicked someone in the face, so I was surprised he even got a yellow card, let alone red," Foster said of the incident.

"We probably benefited (today) but we were a keen supporter (of the rule) even before the game," Foster said.
"We want to infringe more in the red zone area without the risk of a player being sent off the whole match," Foster confirmed. "Mate, we do what we can, it is who we are"," Foster re-iterated.  

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie believed Barrett "wasn't malicious" but deserved punishment. "The decision was accurate. Based on the law, there is going to be repercussions for that," he said.

The whole thing is ludicrous….giving him the red, and the 20 minutes. In this instance it worked out. But imagine it’s given at minute 60 with the two sides tied. Ten minutes is fine, the distinction between a yellow and a red impacting the player, not the game.

Still it’s better than the old rule.

Yes being sent off for the last 20 minues would be signficant. Although that might help keep professional fouls down if a team starts getting on top