Wasps forward Shaw was dismissed in the 11th minute by Welsh referee Nigel Williams for use of the knee on his opposite number Keith Robinson.

Williams waved the red card after an intervention from Australian touch judge Stuart Dickinson, and the linesman's recommendation has incensed Woodward and his management team.

Playing with 14 men for around 70 minutes predictably cost England dear, and they lost the Test series 2-0 before heading to Brisbane for a World Cup final rematch with Australia next Saturday.

Had Shaw, who became only the third England player to be sent off in international rugby history, not been despatched, then it might well have been a different story in terms of the result.

I am very disappointed - it was a ridiculous call in my opinion, said head coach Woodward.

Julian White had stood on the player, and Simon couldn't get his leg away and he put his knee between the player's shoulder blades. He is not a dirty player, and it was a huge call from the touch judge, who was so far away.

If you look at the facts, we had been given a penalty and it looked as though we were going to go 9-0 up, but it just ruined the game for the spectators.


I don't think it was a sending off offence. There was nothing going on out there - it was a massive over-reaction from the official, and I am just disappointed.

It is disappointing for everyone, especially Simon Shaw. It was a nothing incident.

I spoke to the touch judge (Dickinson) after the game, and I asked him was he sure? I am sure when he sees it again, he will be disappointed - I thought he reacted to the crowd.

As if Shaw's premature departure was not enough for England to worry about, they also picked up several injury concerns.

Centres Mike Tindall (hip) and Stuart Abbott (shoulder), plus flanker Richard Hill (ankle) all went off injured.

And England's medical staff now face a busy 24 hours assessing the players' general state of health before departing for Australia.

Prior to Shaw, the last England player sent off in a Test match was Danny Grewcock, red-carded against New Zealand in Dunedin six years ago, while prop Mike Burton received his marching orders against Australia in 1975.

Robinson claimed he did not see what happened during an incident that changed the course of what could have been a dramatic match.

I was at the bottom of a ruck - I don't know what happened, Robinson said.

I don't see myself as a hard man, I just go out there and play 100% for the All Blacks.