Springboks midfielder Damian de Allende apologises to All Black Lima Sopoaga for red card incident

  • 08/10/2017

Springboks midfielder Damian de Allende has apologised to All Blacks first-five Lima Sopoaga for a late shot which saw the 25-year-old see red during Sunday's (NZ time) Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town.

The crowd was stunned when referee Jerome Garces gave De Allende the red card after watching numerous replays of the incident.

The French referee is well known for giving out red cards, and gave Sonny Bill Williams one during the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.

The Stormers player posted a photograph of himself on Twitter with Sopoaga after the game, and said: "Apologies bro... Was never my intention. all the best for the remainder of the year. #stillmates [sic]."

Sopoaga repled to the tweet, saying: "Don't sweat it bro. I know there was no malice in it. That's just footy. Lekker game my bro. #whathappensonthefieldstaysonthefield."

Former international rugby referee Jonathan Kaplan believed Garces made the wrong call and took to Twitter to share his views.

"Poor decision... is there anyone on the field who thought that is what the game required?"

Former Wallabies player Matt Giteau agreed, as did commentator Justin Marshall.

Newshub.