Sam Warburton: 'World Cup red card feels like a lifetime ago'

Wales captain Sam Warburton has revealed that he has not thought too much about the spear tackle that saw him sent off in the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final.

The back-rower was red-carded early on by Irish referee Alain Rolland at Eden Park for a tip tackle on France wing Vincent Clerc during the 9-8 defeat to Les Bleus.

However, Warburton has claimed that he prefers to focus on his successes with Wales since that moment in Auckland.

He told the Daily Post: "I put that to bed about three years, 11 months ago really! When people mention it, I'll think about it and if someone asks about 2011 the first thing I think of is the red card.

"This is a different scenario and has no bearing on the way I'm going to tackle. For me, it feels ages ago. So much has happened since then, individually and as a team. That experience feels like a lifetime ago."

Wales begin their 2015 World Cup at the Millennium Stadium against Uruguay on Sunday.