Argentina will be without first-choice flyhalf Tomás Albornoz for Saturday's Test against the Springboks in Buenos Aires after World Rugby handed him a four-match suspension for misconduct following the Nations Championship match against England on 18 July.
The disciplinary committee, ruling under Regulation 18, found that Albornoz made limited physical contact with referee Angus Gardner while disputing a decision and approached Gardner on two separate occasions before being restrained by teammates. Although Albornoz accepted that his conduct amounted to intimidation of a match official, the committee agreed with his contention that his behaviour did not rise to the level of being abusive, insulting, offensive or threatening.
The entry-point sanction under Appendix 1 to Regulation 17 for contact with a match official carries a six-match ban, but the committee reduced it to four matches, citing Albornoz's early admission of guilt, his clean disciplinary record, and his commitment to issue both public and private written apologies.
The ban covers the Springbok Test on 8 August, Argentina's two Rugby Championship fixtures against Australia on 29 August and 5 September, and Toulon's clash with Stade Rochelais on 12 September.