Hugo Keenan insists he didn't see red over Freddie Steward's high hit - and claims the right decision was made to rescind Saturday's dismissal.
Keenan went from central participant in Ireland's Grand Slam bid to nervous bystander just before half-time when, with a split second to react, Steward careered into him and caught his fellow full-back with his elbow.
After reviewing the incident, referee Jaco Peyper found no mitigating cause on the England player's part and he was sent off.
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However an independent disciplinary panel, after a further review and after hearing Steward's evidence, ruled that the Leicester back should have been sin-binned instead.
Reacting to the decision, Keenan commented: "It's probably fair enough, isn't it?
"It's up to the citing commissioners and the refs to make those decisions but it was a bit of an accident, wasn't it?
"He was very apologetic nearly straight away after and then after on the pitch as well.
"As a fellow full-back, I feel for him in those positions. I think it was just one of those sort of rugby incidents, it's not like it was a reckless high challenge or anything like that.
"I caught him on the pitch and he apologised. I accepted it completely and we had a little chat. He's a lovely lad in fairness.
"He's a very big boy, you don't realise until you're on the pitch, about 6'7", I'd say, and 120 kilos.
"He's probably nearly the biggest player on the pitch, so it probably didn't help his cause, putting me to shame with my mere height and weight.
"There's a bit of a responsibility (on Steward's part), but it's very unfortunate - things are moving fast and it was a weird incident. You never really see it.
"They're just trying to eradicate any contact with the head, and it's obviously an important issue to get right, but it's probably more so for the high tackles or dangerous clearouts.
"You just have to trust the higher powers and refs and citing commissioners to do their job to the best they can, and make the best call they can."
Keenan said it was a "close call" that he failed the HIA and had to park his disappointment to watch the game unfold, with Ireland eventually winning 29-16.
"I certainly don't like watching the games from the sideline," said the 26-year-old.
"Jeez, the stress levels and the anxiety, oh God, I'm not used to it and I don't want to get used to it. But thankfully, the lads stepped up and were brilliant."
Regardless of how it ended on a personal level, Saturday was one of the biggest highlights in Keenan's expanding highlights reel.
He has a big hunger for more as he confirmed he will be fit for the Champions Cup clash 16 clash with Ulster next week.
"I've set out a few goals, that was definitely one of them but there's also more things down the line that are going to keep me motivated," Keenan said.
"It's the first day back here with Leinster and we're already trying to turn the page and focus on the URC and Champions Cup because I still don't have one of them to my name.
"So that's where the focus is going to be on now and where all the attention is."
Hugo Keenan was speaking on behalf of Energia, launching their ‘Think of the Possibilities’ campaign which shines a light on the volunteers doing invaluable, unseen work at Irish Rugby’s grassroots. To hear from Hugo about the people that guided and saw the possibilities in him, visit Think of The Possibilities - Energia x Hugo Keenan - YouTube”
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