Pablo Matera escapes punishment for alleged eye-gouge

Argentina loose forward Pablo Matera was cleared of the eye-gouging charge that was levelled against him during his side's Rugby Championship defeat to South Africa.

A South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby official said that there was not enough clear evidence to ban the 20-year-old for the incident.

"The judicial officer was not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that there was contact with the eyes or eye gouging such as to constitute a breach of the laws of the game of rugby," SANZAR said in a statement on Thursday.

South Africa flanker Francois Louw had accused Matera of gouging.