Barrett will be available to face hosts France in the opening game of the tournament after his red card was judged sufficient punishment
Scott Barrett, the New Zealand lock, is free to play against France in the opening game of the World Cup on September 8 after his red card against South Africa was not deemed worthy of a ban.
Barrett was shown a second yellow card by Matthew Carley, the Premiership referee, late in the first half of his side’s 35-7 loss to the Springboks. It was adjudged that he had recklessly charged down into Malcolm Marx, the South Africa hooker, at a ruck.
Having already had already been sent to the sin-bin earlier in the game, for a different breakdown offence that earned a card because of New Zealand’s persistent infringing, Barrett played no further part in the game.
An independent judicial panel ruled that Barrett’s sending-off was a sufficient punishment, but some confusion clouded the incident because of the involvement of the bunker system.