New Zealand Under-20s' Samipeni Finau has received a four-week ban for his tackle on Wales full-back Ioan Davies.
During Wales' dramatic 8-7 victory over the Baby Blacks earlier this week, Finau thundered into Davies, with his shoulder appearing to make contact with the head.
After reviewing the footage, referee Christopher Ridley only showed a yellow card, deeming that Finau had initially made contact with Davies' shoulder and that the Welshman had dropped his height.
It sparked an angry reaction on social media, with some fans incredulous at the decision.
The incident came just weeks after World Rugby introduced a new framework for referees to consider when dealing with high or dangerous tackles, and this year's World Rugby U20s Championship, is the first tournament to use them.
Finau was cited for the tackle and that was upheld by the disciplinary committee, essentially admitting it should have been a red card.
Evidence was given by both players involved, the Wales team doctor and the referee and the committee deemed it was a high tackle that made contact with Davies' head.
The committee decided Finau was in breach of Law 9.13 and ruled it was a mid-range offence, carrying an entry point of six weeks. This was reduced to four due to the player's previous clean record, youth and inexperience.
He will miss this weekend's final round of action in the U20s World Championship and is banned from club rugby back in New Zealand until after a cup semi-final game in Waikato on 13 July or, if his club do not qualify for the finals, Waikato’s first Mitre 10 Cup pre-season game on 26 July, 2019.
Wales centre Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler is also banned for Saturday's fifth/sixth-place play off game with England in Rosario.
The impressive Ospreys player received a second technical warning in the tournament against New Zealand 'for an upright tackle resulting in contact with an opponent's head' and now must serve a one-match suspension.
