Sebastien Vahaamahina was sent off after 49 minutes of the World Cup quarter-final between France and Wales on Sunday.
The second row was shown a red card by referee Jaco Peyper for a blatant elbow on Wales backrow Aaron Wainwright during a maul.
France had been in a superb position, both on the scoreboard and on the pitch, at that moment. With France leading 19-10, Vahaamahina had just claimed a lineout five metres from the Wales line and his side were edging their way forward when he hit Wainwright with the elbow.
Peyper had initially awarded just a penalty but the incident was subsequently checked by the TMO.
"The first action is around the neck and then you take your arm away and deliberately hit him with the elbow in the head - that's a red card," the South African official told Vahaamahina.
Vahaamahina had scored the first try of the game after five minutes.
Wales won the game 20-19.
RED CARD:
48 mins: Wales 10-19 France.
France's Sebastien Vahaamahina sent off for a cynical elbow on Wales' Aaron Wainwright.#WALvFRA #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/75pmZlv20a— eir Sport (@eirSport) October 20, 2019
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