PARIS - New Zealand captain Sam Cane became the first player to be red-carded in a Rugby World Cup final when he was judged to have performed a dangerous tackle on South Africa's Jesse Kriel in the first half of the match.
The 31-year-old was initially sin-binned but when the action was reviewed, as Cane sat pitchside, referee Wayne Barnes waved a red card towards him.
Cane sat in his seat looking astonished.
All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell had been yellow-carded early on for a foul on hooker Bongi Mbonambi which saw the latter have to go off inside four minutes.
Prior to Saturday's match only one person had been yellow carded in a final -- New Zealand's Ben Smith in the 2015 victory over Australia.
New Zealand captain Sam Cane has been shown a red card for a dangerous tackle, becoming the first men's player to be sent off in a Rugby World Cup final#RWC2023 | #RWCFinal
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 28, 2023