Coach Ian Foster said the All Blacks will look to contest Jordie Barrett's red card after the fullback was sent off for putting his boot into the face of Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete during Sunday's 38-21 victory in Perth.
Jordie Barrett of the All Blacks kicks Marika Koroibete of the Wallabies in the face during the Rugby Union Bledisloe Cup Game 3 between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks at Optus Stadium in Perth, Sunday, September 5, 2021. Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
Barrett jumped to catch a high ball and his foot made contact with Koroibete in mid-air during the first half of the test.
The All Blacks won with a bonus point to complete a Bledisloe Cup sweep and move to the top of the Rugby Championship standings.
The contact appeared accidental but Australian referee Damon Murphy wasted little time reaching for the card after the incident was replayed on screen.
"Pretty surprised, to be honest," Foster said of the decision.
"We'll go and have a good look at it but certainly we'll probably be putting a bit of a case together for that one.
"He just lost balance and you could see he tilted (in the air).
"I feel sorry for the refs in situations like this because technically they saw things and they make their decision so I get all that."
Barrett faces suspension if found guilty of dangerous play but his ejection did not hurt the All Blacks too much on the day, in part because of a tweak to the red card rule being trialled during the Rugby Championship.
Barrett, who scored the All Blacks' first try in the 17th minute, had to sit out the rest of the match but was replaced by Damian McKenzie after 20 minutes.
Previously, the All Blacks would have had to play out the test with 14 men, as happened in the 2019 clash at Perth Stadium in 2019 when Barrett's brother and team mate Scott was red-carded before halftime in the 47-26 defeat by the Wallabies.
"We probably benefited from only having a 20-minute red card. I get that but we were a keen supporter of that (rule change) even before the games, and I think today's thing probably justifies it," added Foster.
Foster was buoyed by the six-try win over the Wallabies, which completed a 3-0 series sweep in the Bledisloe Cup, the annual series contested by the trans-Tasman nations.
The All Blacks next face winless Argentina on the Gold Coast as they look for a third straight victory in the Rugby Championship.
"Pretty delighted," said Foster.
"It was far from perfect but the attitude was perfect and that's the part that makes me happy."
-Reuters
