KEY POINTS:
All Black loose forward Sione Lauaki has been banned for two matches by a World Cup judicial committee.
The ban rubs the burly Waikato player out of Sunday's quarter-final against France in Cardiff and, if they beat the French, the semifinal against either Australia or England at Stade de France in Paris the following weekend.
Lauaki was found to have committed a dangerous tackle on a Romanian opponent in the All Blacks' 85-8 win in Toulouse last Sunday.
It was expected Lauaki would occupy a spot on the All Blacks reserve bench for the quarter-final.
The judicial officer, Christopher Quinlan, found the tackle to be reckless but lacking malice and the opponent had not been hurt, therefore Lauaki's punishment was at the lower end of the scale.
The All Blacks have 48 hours to appeal.
