The International Rugby Board's referees manager, Paddy O'Brien, has defended Alain Rolland regarding criticism over the Irishman's decision to send off Sam Warburton in Wales' World Cup semi-final against France on Saturday. The Welsh captain was given a three-week ban on Sunday for the tackle on the France wing Vincent Clerc that saw him dismissed. Wales will not appeal.

O'Brien said the concern was less the intent of the player who makes a tip tackle and more about the potential consequences of a ball-carrier being dumped or dropped on his head or shoulders.

"Alain Rolland's decision to issue a red card was absolutely correct in law and in keeping with the clear instructions that match officials have received in recent years regarding dangerous tackling," said O'Brien. "Alain is a highly experienced referee and had a clear view of the incident, which enabled him to make an accurate and instant decision. Player welfare is paramount and unions, teams and match officials are all aware of the responsibility to eradicate dangerous play. This message was reiterated as recently as the week before Rugby World Cup 2011 kicked off, when we hosted briefings at a workshop with match officials and coaches."

Warburton, who was represented by a barrister at a three-hour hearing, pleaded guilty to making a dangerous tackle but argued that he had inadvertently lifted Clerc before dropping him. The panel, however, deemed the offence to be mid-range in terms of intent and suspended him for six weeks, halving the total because he had pleaded guilty, shown contrition and had a good disciplinary record. "I am disappointed but all my attention and focus will now go towards the players playing on Friday (the bronze medal game against Australia) and supporting them the best way I can," said Warburton.

The Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, felt Warburton should have received a yellow card at most, a sentiment that was shared by some of the England squad. "Rolland you have had a shocker," said Mark Cueto, using Twitter. "Not for the first time either. We're not here to watch you. Once again we see a refereeing decision that could devalue a match." It should be the players that decide this, not referees."

Ben Foden wrote: "Hard luck to the Welsh boys, dug deep and hung in there. Have to feel for them, short-changed by a massive game-changing decision. Should have been a yellow, but never a red, poor Sam he was the heart and soul of Wales."

Wales decided not to appeal because of the risk of the ban being increased. Warburton will effectively only miss Friday's match against Australia, a repeat of the 1987 play-off which Wales won 22-21, because he was due to rest for a couple of weeks after returning home. He will be available for Cardiff Blues' Heineken Cup match against Racing Métro in Paris on 11 November. Wales cannot replace him but they will call up someone for the injured prop Adam Jones, who tore a calf muscle against France. They want a specialist openside flanker to compete with Australia's David Pocock but Martyn Williams, who is in New Zealand as a television pundit, is injured and Justin Tipuric is facing a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, after being cited for a tip tackle during an Ospreys victory in Munster.

"Wales will be debating the decision for many months to come, for the next four years even," said the back rower Ryan Jones. "It has cost us a place in the World Cup final because we were good enough to beat France. As a squad you have to think 'shit happens' and get on with it.

"It is the most painful defeat of my career. Everyone was drained at the end and I have never sat in a dressing room like it before. We came to New Zealand to do great things and we were close to where we wanted to be. It was taken away."

The wing Leigh Halfpenny, who had to be consoled after the final whistle having failed with a long-range penalty to win the match, said the players were behind Warburton. "A yellow card would have sufficed for Sam and it would have helped the game. He has been phenomenal for us, an absolute credit and I cannot speak highly enough of the guy."

Wales will leave New Zealand on Saturday morning, hours after their third place play-off match against the Wallabies. Gatland has told the squad he will not relax his strict policy on drinking. He is treating Friday's match as seriously as the semi-final, given the importance of world rankings next year for the 2015 World Cup. If Wales, who were fourth in the rankings before Saturday, stay there they will avoid the big three southern-hemisphere nations in the pool stages.

Gatland is set to change his coaching team after returning home. Rob Howley, who is in charge of the attack, has been linked with the head coach's position at Bath, while the defence coach Shaun Edwards said on Sunday that his contract with Wales would finish after the weekend.

Edwards's role at Wasps, where he has been head coach for 10 years, is likely to change on his return to Britain, with David Young having taken over as the director of rugby in the summer. Edwards will be linked with England, who are conducting various reviews after a poor World Cup.