Ref bottles obvious red card in Super Rugby Trans Tasman final
This is pretty weak - it's a clear red card by the letter of the law, whether you agree with that law or not. Ash Dixon is visibly relieved after he was only given a yellow for a direct contact to the head of the ball carrier.
Dixon spent just ten minutes on the sideline after the dangerous tackle on Blues flyhalf Otere Black in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Final.
Luckily the Blues won, but can you imagine if they hadn't.
The Highlanders co-captain was playing his 100th game for the Highlanders having made his debut in 2015 after a few seasons with the Hurricanes. The inspirational leader was named captain of the Maori All Blacks this week.
1. Ethan De Groot
2. Ash Dixon (cc)
3. Siate Tokolahi
4. Pari Pari Parkinson
5. Bryn Evans
6. Hugh Renton
7. Billy Harmon
8. Kazuki Himeno
9. Aaron Smith (cc)
10. Mitch Hunt
11 Jona Nareki
12. Scott Gregory
13. Michael Collins
14. Patelesio Tomkinson
15. Josh Ioane
RESERVES
16. Liam Coltman
17. Ayden Johnstone
18. Josh Hohneck
19. Josh Dickson
20. James Lentjes
21. Kayne Hammington
22. Sam Gilbert
23. Teariki Ben-Nicholas
Unavailable due to injury: Jermaine Ainsley (ankle), Fetuli Paea (ankle), Freedom Vahaakalo (foot), Folau Fakatava (knee), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (wrist), Connor Garden-Bachop (hand), Liam Squire (knee), Marino Mikaele Tu’u (leg), Caleb Makene (leg), Josh Timu (ankle), Saula Ma'u (knee) and Shannon Frizell (ankle).