All Blacks Beat Boks - Bismarck du Plessis Red Card Mars Match!

The All Blacks have maintained their long unbeaten record over the Springboks at Fortress Eden Park for another year at least with a hard-fought 29-15 win.

However, like a game between these two 22 years ago, this game will probably be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Indeed, the rugby on the field was scintillating and thrilling to say the least with the Boks and ABs evenly matched throughout the contest.

But then again, the so-called "contest" ended when Romain Poite, in what must be the French referee's most controversial test yet, deemed Bismarck du Plessis to have intentionally elbowed Liam Messam while carrying the ball forwards, and issued his second yellow card of the game, and an automatic red card.

It was a very big call by the ref and from the video replays, it showed that perhaps Bismarck did deserve the yellow card - mind you how the hell do they expect rugby players to fend if it means an "accidental" elbow like that means a yellow card? Surely Liam Messam was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Bismarck appears to apologize to Dan for injuring him in the tackle that led to his red card

Indeed, it seems that Bismarck's big physique seemed to serve a disservice to him and his team in this game - which is clearly against the spirit of rugby - something with Poite obviously wasn't aware of.

Ok, if Bismarck's second yellow card was perhaps justified but only just, the first yellow card was a shocker.

On video replays, Bismarck looked to have tackled Dan Carter legitimately even if it was a bit high - there were shoulders involved. Perhaps Dan Carter sustaining a shoulder injury that looks to have ended his Rugby Championship, didn't help Bismarck at all. The fact of the matter is that Poite referred the incident to the TMO who deemed that there was nothing malicious yet, Poite issued Bismarck to the astonishment of the big hooker a yellow card.

Is injuring Dan Carter now an automatic yellow card no matter how legal the tackle was? It seemed that way.

Now I just want to clarify that I am an All Blacks fan and definitely want the ABs to win, but I would much rather win a contest that has been correctly adjudicated instead of one that has been slanted so much to us that winning the match has a rather hollow feeling.

Indeed, Romain Poite should have been refereeing the Bordeaux v PSG game last night rather than this one as he seemed rather card happy like a football ref. Ok, the two yellow cards at the end of the game to the ABs were somewhat justified but it probably stemmed from the fact that Poite had far too much say and control of the game and wasn't really refereeing in the spirit of the game.

Anyway, it was a brutal yet thrilling contest and one which perhaps given the injuries to Dan Carter and Israel Dagg, signaled the arrival of the new guard with Beauden Barrett and Charles Piutau having superb games off the bench in trying conditions.

Cane bled for the jersey tonight

Richie McCaw's new deputy, Sam Cane, had by far his most physical game, bleeding profusely to the point, he needed a skullcap to continue, but he absolutely tackled his guts out in the game. Cane looked much older than his years suggested wearing a skullcap - he looks a bit like Phil Vickery - and perhaps his game showed.

Man of the match? Brodie Retallick. The big lock was everywhere, dominating the lineouts and scored a super try early on.

So, the ABs get the win, but they must realise that the gap between themselves and the Boks isn't that much and should expect an absolute onslaught at Ellis Park in three weeks time. Hansen must also consider more injury concerns particularly to one player who he thought was clear of the injury curse.

Mind you, it seems like the ABs are well-prepared for life without Carter and Barrett has shown.