World Rugby must immediately overhaul its red card policy, writes Jamie Pandaram

The final of the most important tournament in the game deserved better. It’s now up to World Rugby to overhaul its red card policy to ensure we never see scenes like that again, writes Jamie Pandaram.

Sam Cane was given a red card in the World Cup final. Picture: AFP Images

World Rugby must immediately overhaul its red card policy after the final was ruined by the call to send off All Blacks captain Sam Cane in the first half against champions South Africa.

Cane became the first player sent off in a World Cup final, when his yellow card in the 27th minute was upgraded to a red by television match official Tom Foley.

It was a deserved call for his high tackle on Jesse Kriel, and while New Zealand valiantly fought back to lose 12-11, the contest was slanted too much in favour of the Springboks from that point on.

On such a stage, with the magnitude of what was at stake, this was a deflating blow to what could have been an epic finale.

It is now up to the governing body to introduce the 20-minute red card, which is used in Super Rugby, so as not to kill the game with one call.

Teams should be able to bring a replacement player on after 20 minutes of a red card being issued, to level the playing field and ensure there is not a fatal disadvantage on a single play.

The Boks have now won back-to-back World Cups, and become the first nation to win four titles, and were supremely composed throughout the match.

Sam Cane was given a red card in the World Cup final. Picture: AFP Images

The red card had a huge impact on the match. Picture: Getty Images

While skipper Siya Kolisi was yellow carded for a high tackle, the bunker determined his high shot on Ardie Savea in the second half had mitigating factors, and therefore unlike Cane, he was allowed to return to the field.

Make no mistake, Cane’s send-off was the right call based on how World Rugby has been cracking down on head contact.

But for one team to play a man down for three-quarters of a final made it near impossible to see the result going any other way than a South African win.

They led 12-6 at halftime and despite Beauden Barrett’s try for New Zealand – the first time the Boks have conceded a try in a final – the men in green held on by repelling raid after raid.

South Africa won their quarter, semi and final each by one point, showing their unwavering ability to win knockout games.

But the Kiwis will be feeling hollow about what could have been.

They’d mounted a mighty campaign since losing to France in the opening match, and Cane was at the heart of their famous quarter-final victory against Ireland.

His leadership and defensive capabilities were lost, and it was clear the All Blacks were missing that one extra man during several attacking forays that the Boks shut down time and again.

The match finished 14 on 14 after Cheslin Kolbe was sin-binned for a deliberate knockdown, but looking back at the overall picture, Cane’s red card was the decisive moment.

The final of the most important tournament in the game deserves better.

Originally published as World Rugby must immediately overhaul its red card policy, writes Jamie Pandaram