Italian fullback Andrea Masi has been cited for the dangerously high tackle that saw him sin-binned inside the opening minute of Six Nations defeat to Ireland at the Stadio Flaminio.

Masi was yellow carded for a neck-high challenge on opposite number Rob Kearney in Sunday’s 38-9 defeat in Rome.

Though Kearney bounce back to his feet immediately, some Irish players reacted to the tackle and there was a brief shoving match before order was restored.

Masi is scheduled to have his case heard by an independent Six Nations three-man disciplinary committee in London tomorrow.

Should he be found guilty, he could be banned for Italy’s crunch clash with Scotland a week on Saturday.