NZ Rugby referees boss Bryce Lawrence is adamant everything that can be done to reduce the risks of red cards being handed out is being done, despite two more being dished out over the weekend.
Lawrence feels teams are making good progress in coaching players to avoid contact with the head, but it's clear there's still some work to do.
Blues star Caleb Clarke will find out in a few hours whether he'll spend the next few weeks on the sideline for his collision with Moana Pasifika counterpart Tomasi Alosio at Eden Park.
In the eyes of referee James Doleman, it was dangerous and reckless, but unavoidable in Clarke's.
"I get what he was trying to do, and I get there was a bad collision and there was head contact, and someone was injured," said Lawrence.
Clarke argues he was attempting a legitimate charge down and the SANZAAR judiciary must now determine whether that's the case. It had less trouble with the two other red cards in recent New Zealand matches, with Blues prop Nepo Laulala and Crusaders hooker Shilo Klein both handed three-match suspensions for their dangerous contact.
Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger says coaches are doing everything to avoid such incidents with players.
"The safest way is the most effective way, keeping the power underneath you, so your body height and your shoulder height underneath you," says Mauger.
Red cards for such incidents are becoming more and more common, but Lawrence agrees teams are doing their best to ensure they get it right.
"I've been in some of the teams this year and we've got referees in teams, and I can see how hard the coaches and players are working every day in improving their technique."
There's still a way to go for some though.
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