English referee Wayne Barnes was exonerated by top rugby officials Friday following his controversial award of a decisive penalty in Wales' opening Six Nations win away to Ireland in Dublin last weekend.
Barnes gave Wales what turned out to be a match-winning penalty, converted by Leigh Halfpenny, in the closing moments of their 23-21 victory at Lansdowne Road after yellow carding Ireland's Stephen Ferris for a tackle on Ian Evans in what many pundits labelled a harsh decision.
Earlier Barnes, acting on advice from English touch judge Dave Pearson, did not send Bradley Davies off for a dangerous 'tip tackle' on Ireland's Donnacha Ryan and just made do with a yellow card even though Wales coach Warren Gatland said it was a red card offence.
Both players were cited for foul play but on a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday decided against any further punishment for Ferris while imposing a tournament-ending seven-week ban on Davies.
Ireland were delighted Ferris was cleared to face France in Paris this weekend -- a match where Pearson is the referee and Barnes a touch judge -- but remained aggrieved at the original decision.
However, a joint statement issued by the International Rugby Board (IRB) and the Six Nations on Friday insisted they "backed" Barnes and "endorsed" his call.
The statement said: "While an independent Six Nations disciplinary panel did not ultimately uphold the citing, the IRB's match officials performance review endorsed Barnes's decision to award a penalty.
"On first viewing the panel could understand exactly how the match referee came to his decision.
"In dismissing the citing no criticism of the referee's on field decision should be taken or inferred.
The statement added all match officials were selected on "merit" and that their performances were reviewed on an "ongoing basis".
'Tip-tackles' became a fresh talking point in rugby after Sam Warburton, the Wales captain, was sent-off for upending France's Vincent Clerc by Irish referee Alain Rolland in a World Cup semi-final defeat in Auckland in October