NZ pundit's withering response to those calling Bledisloe cards 'soft'

New Zealand pundit and commentator Scotty Stevenson has Tweeted the perfect repost to those calling the red cards handed out during Bledisloe IV ‘soft’.

A fiery contest in Queensland saw a number of questionable hits being delivered on either side of the ball. Australia’s Lachlan Swinton was red-carded, not long after New Zealander tighthead Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who was given his marching orders for a high tackle.

Ofa Tu’ungafasi shown a red card for this high tackle on Australia’s Tom Wright.

All Blacks face playing 60 minutes with 14 men in Brisbane #AUSvNZLpic.twitter.com/BNZNNxDMMg

— The Rugby Paper (@TheRugbyPaper) November 7, 2020

It inevitably led to criticism on Twitter, with many calling the decisions soft and saying that they had ruined the game. However, well regarded New Zealander rugby pundit Stevenson was quick to put them back in their place with a withering rebuke.

Bernard le Roux talks Le French Podcast:

Video Player is loading.

Play Video

PlaySkip BackwardSkip Forward

Unmute

Current Time 0:00

/

Duration 0:00

Loaded: 0%

Stream Type LIVE

Seek to live, currently behind liveLIVE

Remaining Time -0:00

 

1x

Playback Rate

Chapters

• Chapters

Descriptions

• descriptions off, selected

Captions

• captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
• captions off, selected

Audio Track

Fullscreen

This is a modal window.

The Video Cloud video was not found.

Error Code: VIDEO_CLOUD_ERR_VIDEO_NOT_FOUND

Session ID: 2025-07-19:a147f94069755432e315ea55 Player Element ID: brightcove-embedded-video

OK

Close Modal Dialog

Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

Text

ColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanOpacityOpaqueSemi-Transparent

Text Background

ColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanOpacityOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparent

Caption Area Background

ColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanOpacityTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaque

Font Size

50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%

Text Edge Style

NoneRaisedDepressedUniformDrop shadow

Font Family

Proportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall Caps

ResetDone

Close Modal Dialog

End of dialog window.

Close Modal Dialog

This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

Bernard le Roux talks Le French Podcast:

“The amount of people calling these cards ‘soft’ who would never have the ability to play pro rugby for a living…

“It’s okay for referees to protect people’s livelihoods/brains while still letting superior athletes entertain you, sitting on your ass, drinking beers.”

The amount of people calling these cards ‘soft’ who would never have the ability to play pro rugby for a living…

It’s okay for referees to protect people’s livelihoods/brains while still letting superior athletes entertain you, sitting on your ass, drinking beers.

— Scotty Stevenson (@sumostevenson) November 7, 2020

‘Sumo’ defended the decisions, writing: “Honestly. The law is clear. An All Black would have to pull a gun for Marshy to call foul play.”

This is not an opinion. It’s the laws of the game. The time to disagree with those laws is not IN a game. A referee can’t.

— Scotty Stevenson (@sumostevenson) November 7, 2020

Needless to say plenty didn’t agree with his take on it. One Tweeter posted: “Is the Ref your cousin or something?” to which Stevenson replied:

Yes, it’s like your marriage. https://t.co/gEFxJAkSx3

— Scotty Stevenson (@sumostevenson) November 7, 2020