Angus Gardner yellow cards Sonny Bill Williams for a deliberate bat-back of the ball during the France vs All Blacks match.

Were we all too quick to condemn? Star All Black Sonny Bill Williams has revealed the referee who sinbinned him during last week's test in Paris has admitted he got that part of the call wrong.

The experienced, and polarising, 44-test midfielder spoke for the first time following the Stade de France encounter, won 38-18 by the All Blacks, in Edinburgh on Thursday evening after the team naming for Saturday's clash against Scotland.

Williams took his brain-explosion play on the chin, after being yellow-carded and also conceding a penalty try when he batted away a French crosskick ingoal, instead of attempting to catch the ball.

GETTY IMAGES Sonny Bill Williams says the referee apologised for sinbinning him in the win against France last weekend.

The play he made is standard in his former sport of rugby league, but not allowed in rugby.

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But Williams, who was outstanding before his 46th-minute sinbinning, also revealed referee Angus Gardner of Australia had admitted afterwards he should not have brandished the yellow card on top of the penalty try.

"It was just an honest mistake," Williams said of his personal misjudgement that was a catalyst for a French second-half comeback, taking them from 31-5 to 31-18. "I guess as humans we're all allowed to make those now and them.

"I remember laying on the ground and I looked up at Jimbo (Damian McKenzie) and said, 'gee bro, am I allowed to do that?' He looked at me and just shook his head.

"It was an honest mistake, just like the ref sending me off was an honest mistake. He came out afterwards and said that he shouldn't have sent me off. The penalty [try] was awarded, and he said he made that mistake by sending me off.

"It is what it is. That's footy. But I have certainly been looking up the rulebook."

Williams was then asked to clarify that the referee had admitted to making an error on giving him the yellow card.

"He came out and said that, bro," he replied.

It was good to see rugby's Mr Misunderstood taking a relaxed approach in the wake of his latest controversy, especially after his coach, Steve Hansen, had called for the critics to back off.

Williams conceded he had been copping plenty from his team-mates post-Paris, and then youngster Rieko Ioane, sitting alongside, confirmed as much.

"He forgets what sport he's playing sometimes. He does boxing and league, and he changes up between the three every now and then. We'll forgive him for that, and we'll forgive him for his moustache as well," said the in-form wing, referring to the early stages of his team-mate's dapper lip ornament.

Williams conceded the All Blacks' second half in Paris – they were outscored 13-7, after leading 31-5 at the break – provided plenty of motivation this week.

"We played amazing in that first half, but the momentum changed. We took some great learnings out of that game. One of the biggest was the penalties. Some were really avoidable, as my one was."

Williams also played beautifully to his audience when asked about the threat of Scotland, on the back of their June upset over the Wallabies down under.

"That hasn't gone unnoticed," he replied. "It's put us on the edge of our seats knowing that they can knock off the big boys, so to speak. We know we've got a massive challenge and just the flavour of football they're playing is great to see."

The code-hopper was on a roll. He talked about his special feelings for Murrayfield, where he played his second test back in 2010, his belief that the All Blacks are right up there with the level of the 2015 world champs and his growing midfield combination with Ryan Crotty – "We bring the best out in each other."

Told the All Blacks had never lost to Scotland he sat up in his chair: "I wasn't aware of that, so it is added motivation. As All Blacks we always put pressure on ourselves, not just to win, but perform well."

And to know the rules, he might have added.