Argentina to appeal against Mariano Galarza's nine-week ban

Argentina will appeal against lock Mariano Galarza's nine-week ban for eye gouging.

Galarza was declared guilty at a hearing on Wednesday of "contact with the eye or eye area" of New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick during Argentina's 26-16 defeat by the holders at Wembley on Sunday.

"[The UAR board] fully supports what Mariano Galarza said and this UAR maintained at the [disciplinary] hearing held yesterday to the effect that there is no evidence of a situation of illicit play on the part of the player," the Argentina Rugby Union said.

Argentina are awaiting written notification of the sanction in order to appeal against it within the permitted 48-hour period and believe they can prove it bears no relation to what happened in the match.

"The Pumas squad, coaching staff and UAR board have full faith in the honesty, loyalty and respect towards the game and all its participants of the player, as irrefutably proved by his impeccable career on and off the playing field," the statement said.

Galarza's suspension took effect immediately, leaving the Pumas with only three recognised locks, one of whom, Guido Petti, misses the Georgia match after a head knock sustained in scoring Argentina's try on Sunday.

As well as missing the rest of the World Cup, Galarza will be unavailable for his English club Gloucester until the ban ends on November 26.