Alesana Tuilagi was banned for lifting his knee in this attempted tackle by Japan's Harumichi Tatekawa.

A host of former international players have criticised World Rugby's decision to ban Samoan winger Alesana Tuilagi for five weeks.

Tuilagi's knee made contact with the head of Japanese centre Harumichi Tatekawa, who was concussed in the attempted tackle last Sunday.

The judicial officer, England's Antony Davies, ruled Tuilagi's action as an "inherently dangerous act" and a clear act of "foul play" but former players Lewis Moody, Shane Williams and Ben Kay have questioned the severity of the ban, with the hashtag #FreeAlesana spreading around rugby circles on Twitter.

Davies said in his written judgement that Tuilagi "raised his knee to a height that was totally unnecessary" and did not apportion any blame on the tackling technique of Tatekawa.

He also said that Tuilagi "did not intend to cause injury, but unfortunately his actions did".

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Tuilagi has now played his last game for Samoa because he's set to retire after the tournament and his ban will also extend into the English Premiership season.

Moody wrote on his Twitter account: "I'm appalled alesana has been banned for 5 weeks. How is running into an opponent an act of foul play. Should we play walking rugby now!!!"

Another England World Cup winner, Ben Kay, tweeted: "I'm all for making our collision sport as safe as possible but REALLY? @WorldRugby Suggest you review this decision!" He then added: "#FreeAlesana."



Shane Williams tweeted a video with the hashtag #FreeAlesana and he said: "It's absolutely ridiculous. A five week ban, for in my book, a decent Maori side step. I've unfortunately encountered about a 100 of them in my career.



"He does lift his knee as he goes into contact. However, it takes a hell of a skill to deliberately knee someone in the face during a tackle while running flat out.



"Whoever's made the decision really does need to reconsider or there needs to be some form of complaint made really because rugby is a physical sport. I don't think there's any intent to injure him in that incident and nothing was made of it during the game."



Former England international George Chuter tweeted: "Tuilagi ban is ridiculous. Had I been banned every time I sat someone down like that in my career, I would have served around zero weeks...."

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Tournament organisers have received criticism for discriminating against Pacific Island players, who've received harsher punishments for the offences they've been cited for compared to tier-one nations.

Three Fijians have received bans in the tournament with Nemani Nadolo and Dominiko Waqaniburotu earning one-match suspensions for "dangerous tackles."

Prop Manasa Saulo was given a 10-week ban for stamping on Wales lock Luke Charteris and the World Cup's other severe ban was handed out to Argentina's Mariano Galarza, who copped nine weeks for an "eye gouge" on All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick.

Australia's Michael Hooper received a one-match ban for a dangerous clear-out of England's Michael Brown last weekend while two Englishmen, Tom Wood and Sam Burgess, only received warnings for foul play in the tournament.