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The New Zealand press - in their initial takes anyway - have not had too many moans about Sonny Bill Williams red card.

"Waisake Naholo's supporting tackle on Watson may have put Williams off balance, but World Rugby's crackdown on tackling without arms, and any contact with an opponent's head, meant it wouldn't have been a difficult decision for the French official," writes Patrick McKendry in the New Zealand Herald.

"Williams can't have too many complaints - but it was probably more clumsy than intentional."

Stuff writer Mark Reason is more damning.

"There were no arms and there was no concern for the opponent's safety. He caught Watson flush on the jaw and the winger went down. It was the tackle of a man who still hasn't fully got the "leaguie" out of his system.

"In rugby league you get a pat on the back for that sort of thing. They really are still that stupid."