All Blacks legend Brodie Retallick has backed the 20-minute red card trial after seeing their Rugby World Cup dreams dashed last October.
New Zealand succumbed to the Springboks by one point in the World Cup final, going down 12-11 at the Stade de France, but they played the final 53 minutes with 14 men after Sam Cane’s red card.
Cane received his marching orders after a high shot on South Africa’s Jesse Kriel. Although it was not malicious, within the current laws of the game it was a nailed-on sending off for the then All Blacks captain.
Under the amendment the southern hemisphere nations want to introduce permanently, teams can replace a red carded player after 20 minutes, bringing them back up to 15.
Used in World Rugby competitions
That has been trialled in Super Rugby Pacific and has now been introduced at designated World Rugby events, including the U20 Championship.
Critics of the law state that it undermines player safety, but Retallick insists that red cards hamper the sport’s “spectacle”.
“There’s a responsibility to look after people regarding the head injuries and brain injuries, but also it comes with the game,” he said on Walk the Talk.
“No one wants to see games ruined by cards, so whether they work out a system there or just find a way to make it even and people still get the spectacle.
“Whether it’s a 20-minute red card and then you bring a player back on or whatnot.”
Retallick’s opinion does not necessarily directly derive from their World Cup defeat, but there is still a lingering disappointment from how that game played out.
“I’m still a little bit frustrated around the cards and the way you don’t want a final to play out. At the end of the day, it is what it is,” he added.
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South African exit
Although the All Blacks went down to the Boks in that World Cup final, Retallick echoed the sentiments of many New Zealanders about South Africa’s departure from Super Rugby.
“The one thing I probably miss the most as I get older is when we used to travel to South Africa on tour. Just how cool it is to get those experiences as a player and spectator,” he said.
“Whether they can make the world club challenge or a world season, it just generates so much interest, and you get to watch players you don’t normally get to see. I think that’s got to be good for the game.
“Even for player development. As a young Super Rugby player, getting to go and play a South African Super Rugby team, if you go on to play internationals you’re used to the physicality and that level of aggression, and the way the South Africans play.
“A lot of players now, especially at Super level, never would have played in South Africa.”
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