A hugely controversial moment.
First things first: most importantly, Robbie Henshaw appears to be OK.
There has been no official confirmation just yet but, as he departed on a stretcher, the Ireland centre raised his thumb to the crowd to signify he was at least awake and aware of where he was after a crunching hit from Sam Cane inside the first 10 minutes at the Aviva.
Garry Ringrose is on for the unfortunate Robbie Henshaw, who raises his thumb to show he is okay pic.twitter.com/yw4KqHF7sc
— SportsJOE.ie (@SportsJOEdotie) November 19, 2016
It was one of those tackles that was hard to call, even with the benefit of several replays.
Cane’s shoulder clearly collided with Henshaw’s jaw, but the initial contact may well have been below the Leinster man’s shoulder, though even that was in dispute and replay after replay failed to definitively clear that up.
@cooper_m @WorldRugby arms came up after hit. Pyper should have asked for better angles and made call himself… pic.twitter.com/mxDWqe1mDB
— RonanPB (@RonanB) November 19, 2016
At the same time referee Jaco Peyper, after consultation with his TMO, awarded a penalty to Ireland so a boundary must have been crossed. Why else was Cane penalised?
But this boundary was not crossed far enough, it would seem, to show the All Black a red card or even send him to the sin bin.
It was a decision that infuriated many Ireland fans on Twitter.
World Rugby inconsistencies once again. A yellow card at the very least for Sam Cane and Jaco Peper questions if it's even a penalty?
— Kristian Ross (@Kristian7Ross) November 19, 2016
Eh? Given the cards we've seen regularly this season for high shots, Sam Cane gets nothing for that
— Andrew McKenna (@talkMacca) November 19, 2016
Very dangerous hit from Sam Cane on Robbie Henshaw. Big call from the red, @AllBlacks lucky not to have a player in the bin.
— Philip Bendon (@PBendon) November 19, 2016
Whatever the ref thinks Sam Cane will be cited for that ridiculous tackle
— Mick Finnegan (@Mick_Finnegan) November 19, 2016
Disgusting decision from the ref, that’s clearly Sam Cane making no attempt to wrap his arms, shoulder to jawbone. #RED #IREvNZL @IrishRugby
— Nathan (@Nathann_09) November 19, 2016
Sam Cane needs to get some for that #IrlVNZ
— Tomás O Brien (@o_tomasobrien3) November 19, 2016
I don't get how that's not at least a sin bin for Sam Cane. His shoulders gone into Henshaw's temple!! Ref has bottled it there!! #IREvNZL
— David Eaton (@Dave_Eaton_1989) November 19, 2016