Warburton's red costs Wales dear in World Cup semi

Wales captain Sam Warburton was dramatically sent off against France in a World Cup semi-final at Eden Park here on Saturday, a decisive blow in a match his side went on to lose 9-8. Openside flanker Warburton was red-carded in the 19th minute by Irish referee Alain Rolland for a 'tip tackle' on Vincent Clerc that saw the France wing land on his head after being lifted up in the air. Wales were leading 3-0 at the time. "I'm gutted but there was no malicious intent," Warburton insisted. Warburton's red card meant Wales, who had already seen veteran prop Adam Jones replaced because of a calf injury, had to play the rest of the match a man down, centre Jamie Roberts moving to act as a flanker in defensive scrums. It could be an inglorious end to the World Cup for the 23-year-old Warburton, the youngest ever captain in a semi-final and a fine ambassador for a Wales team inspired by him and a raft of other younger players. "We just feel like the destiny of the result was taken out of our hands with the red card," Wales coach Warren Gatland said. "He's lifted him, that's a yellow card, but he's not driven him into the ground. Does that mean every time there's a tackle where you lift someone off the ground it's a red card? "Why spoil the semi-final with a red card? He's not a dirty player. I'm just gutted. We were down to 14 but we showed great character and I'm proud of our efforts. "But we can't go to just one tournament and do well, we've got to kick on from here," the New Zealander added. "I feel let down, I thought this team were good enough to go on and take the final but it was not to be. We just feel that ultimately the result wasn't in our control." Wales prop Gethin Jenkins said of Warburton's dismissal: "It was always going to be tough in the second half."It changed the game a bit when Sam went off, we had to play a different style of rugby. Fair play to the French, they held us out for the full 80 (minutes)." Despite a fine solo try from scrum-half Mike Phillips and James Hook's early penalty, France hit back with three Morgan Parra penalties to advance to next weekend's final against the winner of the second semi-final between Australia and New Zealand. Warburton joined Huw Richards as the second Welsh player to be sent off at a World Cup. Richards was red-carded in Wales's previous semi-final appearance, in 1987, for punching New Zealand's Gary Whetton in a match the Welsh lost 49-6. Kevin Moseley was the last Wales player to be sent off, against France in 1990. Warburton's red card was only the second of this World Cup after that given to Samoa fullback Paul Williams for striking South Africa flanker Heinrich Brussow.