All Blacks captain Sam Cane handed two-match ban for Jesse Kriel tackle in World Cup final

Cane was initially yellow carded for his high hit on Springbok centre Jesse Kriel in the 27th minute. The yellow card was upgraded to a red card after a bunker review.

The 31-year-old was left distraught on the sidelines as he could only watch his 14-man troop agonisingly lose by one point to the Boks, who went back-to-back and became the first country to win four Rugby World Cups.

Cane now has the unwanted record of being the only player to be sent off in a World Cup final. He will miss his new Tokyo Sungoliath club's matches against local rivals Brave Lupus Tokyo (November 18) and Saitama Wild Knights (November 25).

"The player accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but challenged the Foul Play Review Official's decision that the act warranted a red card," World Rugby said in a statement.

An independent Disciplinary Committee of World Rugby found "the degree of danger was high as there was direct and forceful contact with the player's shoulder to the head of the ball carrier".

Usually an offence of such nature would warrant a six-match ban but due to Cane's appeal, exemplary disciplinary record in the past and the fact that he showed remorse for his actions, the ban has now been downgraded to two matches.

"Taking all considerations into account, including the player's exemplary disciplinary record, his early acknowledgement of foul play and his clear remorse, the independent Committee determined mitigation of three matches was appropriate", the statement added.

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