Argentina's disappointing World Cup campaign came to a sorry and disgraceful conclusion as two of their senior players were banned for serious assaults on Irish opponents during Sunday's clash at the Adelaide Oval.
Veteran props Roberto Grau and Mariccio Reggiardo received a 15-week suspension between them for incidents involving Keith Wood and Reggie Corrigan during the 16-15 defeat which sent the Pumas tumbling out of the competition.
Grau, who has returned to his homeland to take up a contract with Liceo de Mendoza, was caught on camera appearing to gouge Wood, an allegation which, if proved, carried a maximum three-year suspension from the game.
However, after a marathon seven-hour hearing in central Sydney, 33-year-old Grau was found guilty of `raking his hand over the face of an opposition player'.
It will prevent Grau from playing until December 31st, while Reggiardo, also 33, will not be able to appear for French outfit Castres until December 10th.
RWC judicial officer Bruce Squire confirmed that Reggiardo's attack on Corrigan, which forced the Irish front-row out of Sunday's match, was `reckless rather than deliberate but carried a significant and unacceptable risk of injury'.
The duo have 48 hours to lodge an appeal, although with the Pumas due to fly out of Australia before the weekend, arranging a new hearing could turn into a complicated process.