Banned Malakai Fekitoa out of All Blacks' game against France after dangerous tackle ban

Malakai Fekitoa will miss New Zealand’s match against France in Paris on Saturday after being given a one-week ban for a dangerous tackle.

Fekitoa was cited after being sin-binned for a high tackle on Simon Zebo during the world champions’ 21-9 win over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Although shown a yellow card by South African referee Jaco Peyper, the centre was still able to score two of New Zealand’s three tries as they gained revenge for a 40-29 defeat by Ireland, which was the Irish’s first win over the All Blacks in Chicago a fortnight earlier.

There were those who thought Fekitoa should have been sent off, but at a disciplinary hearing before a three-man panel in London, Fekitoa accepted he had committed an act of foul play but argued that it would not have warranted a red card.

Watch: Malakai Fekitoa’s tackle on Ireland’s Simon Zebo

But the three-man committee, after viewing video evidence and listening to representations, issued a statement saying: “Mr Fekitoa’s actions would have warranted a red card, albeit that he had acted recklessly rather than intentionally.”