Free ride for All Blacks? Proof that Wallabies great Phil Kearns was wrong

Tolu Latu pushing Codie Taylor in the face with an open palm. Photo / Facebook

Compelling new footage has revealed what really went down between Wallabies hooker Tolu Latu and All Black Codie Taylor.

Closing a comfortable season of victories over the Wallabies, the All Blacks took down Australia on Saturday night 37-20 to claim another Bledisloe Cup clean sweep - but not without some controversy.

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Wallabies fans were outraged when referee Romain Poite's decision to send Latu to the bin late in the All Blacks' 37-20 win in Yokohama effectively ended any chance of a miracle Wallabies comeback.

Latu was shown a yellow card after Taylor pushed Latu following a scuffle during the game, which the Wallabies hooker reacted to with a strike to his opponent's face.

The controversial call was questioned by Wallabies fans and greats such as Sir Phil Kearns, who later fired a nasty shot at the All Blacks for getting a "free ride" from referees.

"That yellow card, I've got to say, I'm consistently frustrated — and I know world rugby is, the other teams except for New Zealand — frustrated with the free ride New Zealand get from referees globally," Kearns said on a Fox Sport broadcast.

"Disappointing from Tolu ... sure, he shouldn't have done it but, really, referees, get a grip, nothing happened, no one was hurt, no one was punched."

Tolu Latu was shown a yellow card with minutes remaining. Photo / Getty

However, footage has revealed the moment Latu made first contact with the face of Taylor proving that the call was indeed fair and that there was no refereeing bias directed towards New Zealand.

All Black fans have since taken to social media to recall their frustration when the footage was reviewed on Saturday night slamming the TMO's initial interpretation.