All Black Sonny Bill Williams has revealed that he received an apology from the referee for the yellow card he was dealt in the Test against France last weekend.
The midfielder says Australia's Angus Gardner admitted post-game that the sinbinning for Williams' intentional tapping of the ball dead from a kick wasn't justified.
"[Gardner] came out afterwards and said that he shouldn't have sent me off," the 32-year-old told media at a press conference in Edinburgh.
"The penalty try was obviously awarded, but he said he made that mistake by sending me off. It is what it is, that's footy.
"I should've been looking up the rule books."
Williams later confessed to being unfamiliar with the particular rule, which differs to his original sport of rugby league, and simply made a play which was instinctive to him from his years in the 13-man code.
"I remember laying on the ground and I looked up at Jimbo [Damian MacKenzie] and I said 'Bro, am I allowed to do that?'"
"He looked at me and he shook his head"
"It was an honest mistake, just like the ref sending me off was an honest mistake."
The confession hasn't saved him from a week's worth of ribbing from his teammates.
"He forgets what sport he's playing sometimes," laughed Rieko Ioane, referring to Williams' varied sporting pursuits.
The All Blacks went on to win the Test 38-18 after repelling a late French fight-back sparked by Williams' referee-enforced absence.
Newshub.
