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New Zealand international Ardie Savea admits he went too far with his throat-slitting gesture during the Hurricanes' Super Rugby win over the Melbourne Rebels.
Savea was shown a yellow card following a large brawl just before half-time and after an exchange of words with scrum-half Ryan Louwrens, he drew his right hand across his throat before marching off.
"I can understand the fans are furious around the gesture that I made," the All Blacks number eight told Stan Sport.
"It's just a heat of the moment kind of thing. It's footy. Kids are watching us, we're in the heat of the moment. Usually that's out of character for me, so I put my hand up first and I apologise for that.
"For me, to get a yellow card for a push and shove... that's just where rugby's going.
"I've got to be better. We're trying to clean up the game. I understand, there are no excuses for me, I've got to be better."
Savea, who has won 70 caps for New Zealand, is now likely to face disciplinary action.
