SBW receives apology from ref over yellow card

All Black Sonny Bill Williams has revealed that referee Angus Gardner has admitted he was wrong in sin-binning the midfielder in last weekend’s test in Paris.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJID2GvutXc

Gardner showed a yellow card and awarded a penalty try after Williams deliberately knocked an Anthony Belleau cross kick over the dead ball line. It was obvious at the time that Williams’ rugby league instincts took over, as such a move is standard practice in the 13-man code. He later admitted to not knowing that the action was illegal, however consensus was mixed on the severity of the punishment.

“The penalty was obviously awarded, but he said he made that mistake by sending me off. It is what it is, that’s footy.” Williams told Newshub.

“I should’ve been looking up the rule books. I remember laying on the ground and I looked up at Jimbo [Damian MacKenzie] and I said ‘Bro, am I allowed to do that?’ He looked at me and he shook his head. It was an honest mistake, just like the ref sending me off was an honest mistake.”

In the end it made little difference to the result, as the All Blacks ran out 38-18 victors over the inexperienced French side. All Black coach Steve Hansen is obviously unconcerned with the incident, retaining Williams in his starting side for this weekend’s test against Scotland at Murrayfield.