The Reds should accept a large chunk of blame for the Super 12 rugby substitution fiasco during their defeat by the Blues, Sanzar's regional tournament director Neil Sorenson said.

According to the substitutes' controller, the Reds were at fault as they took five minutes to realise they were still a man down once prop Nick Stiles returned from the sinbin.

When Stiles was sinbinned, he was then replaced, for safety reasons, by fellow prop Greg Holmes, a move that meant flanker Daniel Heenan had to be sacrificed for the 10-minute penalty.

When that suspension ended, Stiles returned to replace another prop, Anthony Mathison, but the Reds did not send Heenan or another flanker out to make up their full complement.

While the Reds continued with just 14 men during the subsequent confusion, the Blues scored two tries.

Despite threats of official complaints from the Reds, Sorensen said just one report had been received - from substitutes controller John Gillies.

"John is one of our most experienced sideline men in the country," Sorensen said.

Gillies' report indicated Stiles had returned to the pitch about 30 minutes into the second half.

"About 35 minutes, the water-carrier from the Reds worked out they had only 14 men on the field - bearing in mind we have only got one report to go on - and he said they had to get their No 6 onto the park," Sorensen said.

Both teams were assigned officials to help them monitor player substitutions but it was up to the Blues and Reds staff to liaise with the chief subs controller, who was wired up to the referee.

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