Johnson, who is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury suffered in September, is likely referring to the fourth Bledisloe Cup test between the All Blacks and the Wallabies, where two players were sent off, sparking a debate about rugby's laws on high tackles.
Both All Blacks prop Ofa Tuungafasi and Aussie rookie Lachlan Swinton were sent off and subsequently suspended for apparently accidental high shots, prompting many to argue that red cards are ruining the spectacle of rugby.
But when it comes to global appeal, union has long had a greater reach than league.
When asked by a fan if he had ever played rugby, Johnson he did and "never enjoyed it like I did league".
All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan was one of many calling for red cards to be scrapped from the sport altogether.
Kirwan worried that red cards ruin the spectacle of the sport and that it may have dire consequences for the sport's appeal.
"Our game does not need red cards," Kirwan said on Sky Sport's The Breakdown. "I don't think there's anyone in our game that goes out intentionally to hurt someone. So if it's a red card, they go off and someone replaces them for 15 minutes. People have paid good money to watch a game of rugby with 15-a-side. That's my biggest issue."
World Rugby has cracked down on high shots, but many have called out its hypocrisy when it comes to player welfare and its employment of head injury assessments.
