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AUCKLAND: Wales captain Sam Warburton was given a three-week ban here on Sunday following his red card for a 'dangerous tip tackle" in the World Cup semi-final defeat by France.
The suspension rules the 23-year-old openside flanker out of next week's third place playoff against the losers of Sunday's second semi-final between New Zealand and Australia.
Irish referee Alain Rolland showed Warburton a straight red card in the 19th minute following a tackle on Vincent Clerc at Eden Park here on Saturday that saw the France wing land on his head after being lifted in the air.
Warburton admitted committing a "dangerous tip tackle", a statement released by the International Rugby Board (IRB) said Sunday.
Before the World Cup started, the IRB reiterated tackles involving a player being lifted off the ground and tipped horizontally and then forced or dropped to the ground are illegal and constitute dangerous play.
The IRB memorandum issued on June 8, 2009 stated such tackles "must be dealt with severely by referees and those involved in the off-field disciplinary process."
Independent judicial officer Christopher Quinlan of England said Rolland's decision to send off Warburton, criticised by many pundits, was in line with IRB directives and concluded the offence was "mid-range" on the scale of seriousness, which has an entry point of six weeks.
But taking account of Warburton's admission, "outstanding character, disciplinary record and remorse," he reduced the ban to three weeks.
The suspension takes effect immediately. Warburton, free to resume playing on November 7, has 48 hours in which to appeal from the time he was informed of the decision.
Wales were leading 3-0 at the time Warburton was dismissed at Eden Park here on Saturday thanks to a James Hook penalty.
But they went on to lose 9-8, Morgan Parra slotting three penalties for France while Mike Phillips scored the only try of the game for the Welsh.
Wales coach Warren Gatland said Rolland's decision had cost his side a place in the final, while Warburton insisted he'd had no intention of harming Clerc.
"I'm gutted but there was no malicious intent," Warburton said Saturday.
"I thought it was a normal tackle, next thing I was walking off into the stands."
Former Wales fly-half Phil Bennett summed up the mood of many of his rugby-obsessed compatriots when he said Sunday that Rolland's ruling was "technically correct, but morally wrong, emotionally wrong, wrong to the bottom of my gut".
"12 Years aSupporter" starring the #SeaOfBlue
Really! I was calling it a pretty soft red........I guess we ARE playing tiddly winks now!
C'mon the![]()
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Not deserved! Jason Little had a lot to say about it today... Namely a yellow would have been more than sufficient
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"The IRB memorandum issued on June 8, 2009 stated such tackles "must be dealt with severely by referees and those involved in the off-field disciplinary process."
Independent judicial officer Christopher Quinlan of England said Rolland's decision to send off Warburton, criticised by many pundits, was in line with IRB directives and concluded the offence was "mid-range" on the scale of seriousness, which has an entry point of six weeks."
What could the ref and the iRB do?
There is a directive and the directive was followed.
Story ends.
Move on everyone.
Referees have killed another IRB tournament
Red card the ref
3 weeks in subbies for the dithering d1ckhead
The only good thing about the wallaby loss was the referee wasn't the talking point after the game
Controversy corner
Would've liked to see Pocock vs Warburton....
Chuck Norris has the greatest Poker-Face of all time. He won the 1983 World Series of Poker, despite holding only a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game Uno.
Tin foil hat for Happy
the statement was released a while ago...