In the aftermath of the match, which Wales lost by a point, his coach Warren Gatland claimed a yellow card would have sufficed while Warburton himself was adamant there was no ‘malicious intent’.

As a result of his tackle, the Blues flanker was handed a three-week ban which ensures he will not face the Cardiff Blues this weekend in the all Welsh RaboDirect PRO12 affair.

In the other all Welsh clash Matthew Rees, who would have been coach Gatland’s captain in New Zealand if not for a neck injury, will make his first start of the season for the Scarlets.

And his return immediately throws his hand up for a return to the captaincy – although Warburton is putting forward a strong case.

"If it was offered to me again I would take it, but Matthew did a great job during the Six Nations [last season] so I would understand if they want to give it back to him,” said Warburton.

"But personally I would love to hold on to it after enjoying it at the World Cup.

"I can't complain [about the decision over there]. There was no point in appealing against it and I didn't have a leg to stand on really.

“The International Rugby Board said if you lift up a player and drop him it's a red card, and that's exactly what I did.”