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New Zealand facing punishment for extra man on field in Sydney Sevens

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World Rugby will investigate whether New Zealand fielded eight players in their Sydney Sevens match against Australia on Saturday

Referee Craig Joubert is in the spotlight again after missing an extra New Zealand player on the pitch during the Sydney Sevens.

The All Blacks had eight players on the field when Ardie Savea scored their match levelling try against Australia, a result that denied the Wallabies the chance to top Pool A and could lead to them being punished.

Had Joubert, or one of the other officials, noticed the extra player in the All Blacks attack a penalty would have been awarded and Australia would have been in position to play out time for victory.

The South African referee was at the centre of a storm during last year's World Cup when he awarded a controversial late penalty to Australia that saw them past Scotland 35-34 in a tense quarter-final.

World Rugby say an investigation is being made into the lapse in officiating, but confirmed the result of the match had to stand even though it was brought to their attention before Sunday's knockout stages began.

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"Not much of an investigation, if that was what it was. The question is, 'how could that happen'?" Australia coach Andy Friend said. 

"In an Olympic year, if that comes down to a gold medal game, [there will be] a lot of disappointed people. What we have got to make sure is that those simple mistakes don't happen in a big tournament."

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Belated punishment could include New Zealand being docked World Series points or facing a fine - England were fined £10,000 for having a 16th man on the field during a win over Samoa at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand went on to face Australia in the final in a repeat of Saturday's pool game and, to add to the home side's heartache, they scored a try after the siren to secure a 27-24 victory.

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