Wallaby winger Drew Mitchell says that he let his team mates down by becoming the first Wallaby to be sent off in 23 years during the TriNations test against the All Blacks.

Mitchell was cleared on Sunday of further punishment by SANZAR judicial officer Peter Ingwersen, who deemed his 48 minutes off the field was sufficient punishment for his two yellow cards in Saturday’s 49-28 loss to New Zealand in Melbourne.

South African referee Craig Joubert showed Mitchell the red card three minutes into the second half after the winger intentionally prevented a quick lineout throw with the All Blacks on the attack.

Joubert had been heard to previously warn both captains that he had run out of patience for deliberate slowing tactics in the attacking zones.

The contest appeared over at the time Mitchell left the field with the Wallabies trailing 32-14 and the All Blacks well in control of proceedings.

But the Wallabies still added 14 points in Mitchell’s absence as they played only for pride.

Mitchell, who had never previously been sent off in his career, became the first Wallaby sent off since backrower David Codey during the 1987 World Cup against Wales.

Mitchell had started the match brightly when he charged down Dan Carter’s clearing kick for an eighth-minute try, but it went downhill from there.

“It’s hard for me to take any joy from that at the moment, watching the game unfold the way it did is not a pleasant feeling,” Mitchell said.

“It was gut-wrenching. I let everyone down out there and it’s not a nice feeling.”

Wallabies’ coach Robbie Deans said the red carding turned the contest into a “nonsense” as it effectively ended any hope the home side had of fighting back.

“It was a bizarre feeling when it went down to 14 men. It didn’t feel like a Test match,” Deans said on Sunday.

“He (Mitchell) is very remorseful. He’s aware it made an impact on the group and he was very uncomfortable about that.”

Mitchell was initially sinbinned for a shoulder charge on New Zealand captain Richie McCaw in the 28th minute.

New Zealand also lost prop Owen Franks to the sinbin in the 21st minute for a shoulder charge on Wallabies’ number eight Richard Brown.

All Blacks’ hooker Keven Mealamu said the Franks’ yellow card emphasised how vigilant players had to be at the collision.

“Over the last couple of Tests it seems to be a lot tougher with the cards. It’s been put back on the players to make sure we’re squeaky clean,” he said.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said he supported Joubert’s approach.

“The referee’s pretty tough but I think that’s important you get a decent game of footy,” he said.

“If he is grey on the tackle area or grey on people throwing the ball away when the other side wants it then you’ve got a shambles on your hands.”

Mitchell, Australian fly-half Quade Cooper plus South Africans Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, BJ Botha and Jacque Fourie have also spent 10-minute stints on the sidelines during this year’s Tri-Nations.