Ethan de Groot. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot will appear before an independent Judicial Committee after receiving a red card in their World Cup win over Namibia in Toulouse last Saturday.
De Groot was sent off for a dangerous tackle late in the game.
At the player's request, the hearing will take place overnight tonight (NZT).
All Blacks coach Ian Foster says they will contest the charge of "charging without attempting to grasp the opponent".
Adriaan Booysen, Namibia's replacement flanker who usually plays for the Dallas Jackals in the US Major League Rugby, appeared to have copped Ethan de Groot's shoulder to his face after taking the ball into contact.
The prop got a yellow card, which was then upgraded to red.
With Tyrel Lomax still recovering from his freak leg gash against the Springboks at Twickenham and de Groot facing a likely suspension, Foster's now potentially losing his starting props that had paved the way for the All Blacks' successes in The Rugby Championship.
If de Groot is banned, it could be for three matches, with a reduction to two if he attends tackle school.
If he is out for three games he would be unavailable for the quarter-finals.
A two match ban would mean he would miss the All Blacks final two Pool A games against Italy and Uruguay.
-RNZ
