Rugby World Cup 2019: Mark Richardson, Duncan Garner unleash on officials following Bundee Aki's suspension

Ireland centre Bundee Aki's Rugby World Cup is over, and The AM Show hosts Mark Richardson and Duncan Garner didn't mince their words about their thoughts on the decision.

"IRB [World Rugby] you're cowards," Richardson said.

The Auckland-born midfielder copped a six-week ban over his dangerous tackle against Manu Samoa.

Rugby World Cup 2019: Mark Richardson, Duncan Garner unleash on officials following Bundee Aki's suspension

He contested the red card decision so he could be available for Saturday's quarter-final showdown with the All Blacks, but was unsuccessful.

"Six weeks for this tackle? It's a cuddle," Garner said. "The guy falls into his chest.

"They need the captains to go into a meeting with the referees before the quarter-finals - they've got to sort this out."

Richardson said commonsense had been taken out of the equation.

"Rugby is now bowing to a whinging, woke minority who seem to be running the world right now.

"They've tried to take away the ability to use commonsense, and look at it case by case - to cover their own backsides, because a few woke twits will write articles.

"They [World Rugby] fear those articles. Show some balls rugby," Richardson said.

"It's killing the game - you're killing the game," Garner concluded. 

World Rugby said in a statement having considered all angles of the incident, the committee had upheld the decision of the referee.

Aki has 48 hours to appeal the decision.

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