The pain of the Rugby World Cup final defeat isn't over for All Blacks captain Sam Cane, who has copped a three-game ban for his red card at Paris.
Cane admitted to an act of foulplay, but contested that his high tackle on South Africa's Jesse Kriel warranted a sending off.
The independent disciplinary committee determined there was "direct and forceful contact to the players shoulder" and no mitigating factors.
The committee cut the recommended six-match suspension down to three, due to Cane's "exemplary disciplinary record" and his "clear remorse".
He can reduce it to two, if he completes a World Rugby coaching intervention programme, which will force him to miss the start of the season for his new Japanese team, Tokyo Sungoliath.
Cane is likely to be eligible to make his debut for Sungoliath against Urayasu D-Rock on December 2.
