Eben Etzebeth's missed act leaves All Blacks fans outraged after World Cup final

Rugby World Cup referee Wayne Barnes has come under fire for missing a stray forearm from South African second-rower Eben Etzebeth only moments before the All Blacks captain was red carded in the final. New Zealand and rugby union fans were left disillusioned when Sam Cane was given his marching orders in the first half.

Commentators, players and fans were all divided on the red card decision with Cane collecting Jesse Kriel high with the smaller outside centre bracing for contact as the All Black's shoulder made contact with his head. The decision changed the dynamic of the match with the All Blacks playing with 14 men for the majority of the contest.

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However, All Blacks fans have become enraged Barnes missed a stray elbow from only moments before the decision. In the first half, Etzebeth charged into the All Blacks defensive line with the ball, but held up his forearm and collected Cane in the chin.

The incident occurred right in front of Barnes, but there was no action taken as Cane got up to play on. Moments later, Cane found himself on the sideline for his own red card.

And fans have called out Barnes for missing the moment, which could have seen South Africa reduced to 14 men instead of the All Blacks. The spectacle as a whole also came into question with the officiating overshadowing what was a brilliant all-Southern Hemisphere battle in Paris.

Israel Dagg unleashes over Rugby World Cup farce

Former All Blacks back Israel Dagg was left fuming at the TMO's intervention in the showpiece event in Paris. Dagg was one of the frustrated All Blacks supporters watching on as two cards were handed to his team in the first half.

The talking point about the World Cup final has been the officiating and Dagg took aim at the referees and World Rugby for creating a game that is 'boring as hell'. “This is our showpiece event, which has been overshadowed by a couple of people that are just taking the glory and the gloss away from the players,” Dagg said on Sky Sports.

“I’m honestly just fed up … it is putting apprehension in the mind of our players. You can see why people switch off the game, because it’s as boring as hell, because you don’t have the best players out there.

“There were some contentious moments but deal with it after the game. There was no malice in (Cane’s tackle) and Jesse Kriel is fine.”

However, Barnes did have those that defended the officiating. Many felt Cane's tackle deserved a red and the officiating team made the big call in the final.

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper agreed it was a red card, but questioned whether being sent off for the remainder of the match was good for the contest. "I wonder what World Rugby are thinking. Perfect opportunity for the 20 minute red card...contest is completely ruined. It is a red card. He should be off the field."

The only previous card in a World Cup final was a yellow for All Black Ben Smith in 2015, when New Zealand beat Australia to lift the trophy at Twickenham. That record lasted until just the third minute in Paris, when All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell was sin-binned for a neck roll on South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi. Mbonambi was subbed off injured, as his leg was twisted badly in the ruck, but the bunker decided that was accidental and Frizell returned to the field.

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