Pool A NewsArgentina prop Roberto Grau was suspended for nine weeks and his front-row partner Mauricio Reggiardo for six weeks after a Rugby World Cup judiciary panel found both had raked their hands across the faces of opponents.

The Argentinian props had been cited to appear before the panel after separate incidents during the Pumas' loss to Ireland in Adelaide on Sunday.

Rugby World Cup said in a statement that judicial officer Bruce Squire had upheld citings against both players at a hearing in Sydney yesterday.

"He suspended Grau for nine weeks, up to and including 31 December, having found him guilty of raking his hand over the face of an opposition player," the statement said.

The statement said Reggiardo had been suspended until December 10th because his action was "reckless rather than deliberate".

There was no immediate indication from the Argentine team management whether they would appeal against the findings and suspensions.

Tighthead Reggiardo's suspension means he will likely miss up to a month of the club competition in France, where he plays for Castres.

The usual penalty for a player found to "attack an opponent's eyes with any part of the hand" is a ban of two years.

Grau and Reggiardo were the third and fourth players to be cited and receive suspensions during the tournament.

The regulations under which they were cited deal with "acts contrary to good sportsmanship".

Scotland flanker Martin Leslie earlier had his 12 week ban for kneeing United States back Jason Keyter in the head during a pool B match in Brisbane last week cut to eight weeks by a three-man appeal committee.