Sonny Bill Williams became the first All Black in 50 years to receive a straight red card when he was sent off in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions in Wellington.
Cape Town – Sonny Bill Williams became the first All Black in 50 years and only the third in total to receive a straight red card when he was sent off in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions in Wellington.
In the 25th minute and with the game level at 3-3, All Black inside centre was shown a straight red card by French referee Jerome Garces for a shoulder charge into the face of Lions winger, Anthony Watson.
And it was a decision that Williams can have no complaint over.
That prompted an immediate change with flanker Jerome Kaino subbed for debutant Ngani Laumape with All Blacks coach Steven Hansen opting for seven forwards from that point onwards.
Watson was forced to leave the field for a concussion assessment and never returned.
Williams is only the third All Black to ever be sent off in an international after Cyril Brownlie in 1925 and Colin ‘Pinetree’ Meads in 1967.
On the two previous occasions, the All Blacks still went on to win the games while in Wellington, the British and Irish Lions outscored their opponents by two tries to nil and won 24-21 to level the series at 1-all.
WATCH: Sonny Bill Williams sees red
