Disciplinary chiefs have admitted that All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa should not have been on the field to score the winning try in New Zealand's 21-9 victory over Ireland.
Fekitoa has been suspended for one week for his high tackle on Simon Zebo that only drew a yellow card in Saturday's feisty Dublin clash.
Referee Jaco Peyper sin-binned Fekitoa in a controversial match that later drew 12 citing referrals, 11 pertaining to the All Blacks.
Fekitoa scored two of New Zealand's tries, but avoided a red card that disciplinary bosses have now conceded should have been issued.
"The disciplinary committee found that Fekitoa's actions would have warranted a red card, albeit that he had acted recklessly rather than intentionally," read a statement from the autumn international disciplinary authorities.
New Zealand flanker Sam Cane was also up before a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, for the high tackle that left Robbie Henshaw unconscious but was only punished by a penalty on Saturday night.
Team manager Mick Kearney admitted on Monday that Ireland were disappointed with the officiating fall-out.
Governing body World Rugby issued a stark warning before the November Tests that any dangerous or head-high tackles would be punished harshly.
Players were warned that red cards could be issued, but New Zealand managed to avoid such censure in their three-try win in Dublin at the weekend.
Tuesday's admission that Fekitoa should have been sent off must act as a source of embarrassment for the game's law makers, and raises further questions about the standard of officiating in Dublin.
Fekitoa will miss New Zealand's final autumn Test, the clash with France in Paris on Saturday.
