Head-on-head challenge leaves Argentina with 14 men vs Wales

Argentina full back Juan Cruz Mallia was shown a straight red card against Wales on Saturday for a high tackle on Kieran Hardy.

The Toulouse full back chased his own high kick at the Principality Stadium and made a high, head-on-head tackle on the scrum half who was waiting for the ball to drop.

Following a lengthly TMO referral, referee Matt Carley determined that Cruz Mallia made contact with Hardy’s head with force and that there was no mitigation to reduce the punishment from a red card.

Cerdyn coch i’r Ariannin 🟥

Y cefnwr Juan Cruz Mallia yn cael ei yrru o’r cae yn dilyn tacl uchel a pheryglus ar Kieran Hardy.

🏉29′ Yr Ariannin 3-6 Cymru

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿v🇦🇷@WelshRugbyUnion
📺 @S4C @S4Cchwaraeon
💻 https://t.co/epG9jcvuNA
📍 Stadiwm Principality pic.twitter.com/LGvexK84Up

— Clwb Rygbi (@yclwbrygbi) July 10, 2021

Los Pumas were therefore forced to play 50 minutes with 14 players, yet pulled off an impressive 20-20 draw in Cardiff having led 20-6 in the second half.

Cruz Mallia, 24, made his Test match debut in 2018 and was part of the Toulouse side which won the Champions Cup earlier this year, scoring a try in the final at Twickenham.