'No doubt': Foster explains the Savea debacle and weighs in on the 'cardfest'

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has confirmed his side was puzzled when Ardie Savea was not allowed back on the field and also compared last night’s loss to the 2017 British & Irish series.

In the second test against the touring Lions in 2017, midfielder Sonny Bill Williams was red carded in the first half which reduced the All Blacks to 14 men for the duration of the contest.

They suffered a similar fate last night when reserve prop Angus Ta’avao was sent off for head-to-head contact in a tackle with Ireland’s centre Garry Ringrose after 30 minutes.

Ian Foster | All Blacks press conference

Ian Foster | All Blacks press conference

The All Blacks were forced to substitute Ardie Savea for another prop to scrummage having already lost Ofa Tuungafasi to a yellow card.

“In many ways it had flashbacks to the 2017 Lions series,” Foster said of the 23-12 defeat to Ireland.

“With the red card, we had a lot of attitude, we tried hard but we just weren’t quite good enough in the end in that second test, and it was the same again last night.”

Foster explained that the All Blacks definitely wanted star No 8 Savea to return to play but weren’t allowed to bring him back on by the officiating crew.

That decision was at odds with what All Black management thought should have happened in that situation.

“There was clearly confusion around the red card and what could happen after that. To be fair to everyone, it was a revolving door there for a little while,” he said.

“But we are seeking clarification. What happened was not what we thought should happen.

“No doubt, no doubt that we wanted Ardie to go back on,” Foster confirmed.

The All Blacks were issued three cards in the first half which Foster believed is part of an officiating effort that has taken the game ‘too far’.

England head coach Eddie Jones also commented after his side’s win over Australia that the game had gotten ‘out of control’ and referred to the All Blacks in his speech.

“Personally, I think it is too far. I think we are in danger of turning a game into a cardfest,” Foster said.

“There were clearly strong messages sent out last week, there was a feeling that we should have had four yellow cards last week,” he said.

“It seemed to be the mindset that went into this game.

“It is what it is though. If you look at our cards, you have to look at them singularly.

“We get the Leicester one, I think that is incredibly unfortunate but they are the rules. I don’t think there is anything in that one. Ofa, we accept and Angus, we kind of accept.

“I think most people could see a change in direction, a big prop reacting and a collision that is pretty unfortunate.”

On whether the Northern Hemisphere teams had adapted better to the rules and officiating, Foster pointed to the weekend’s results as evidence that they had gotten something right this weekend.

“If you look at the weekend, they did a pretty good job. It was a Northern Hemisphere weekend, wasn’t it?” Foster said.

“Wales getting up, England getting up and Ireland getting up. Whilst there is a bit of doom and gloom in our camp it is a great weekend for world rugby.

“It sets up next weekend pretty well. But clearly, we’ve got to get better.”