'Distraught' Moody faces long ban

Moody was dismissed for punching Alesana Tuilagi in a brawl that erupted after the Samoan's dangerous tackle on Cueto in the 77th minute.

"In hindsight, I shouldn't have reacted," Cueto said.

"I feel bad for Lewis, he just stepped in to help me out. For what I did, he ended up getting sent off."

The tackle, the third dangerous one on Cueto during the game, saw Tuilagi up-end him in mid-air before he crashed to the ground head-first.

Cueto ran over to confront Tuilagi, who punched him in the head, before Moody rushed in and unleashed a barrage of his own on Tuilagi.

Samoa skipper Semo Sititi could also be in trouble for throwing punches at Moody that the officials did not see.

Once a few fists start flying, it is difficult to stand off and not get involved Mark Cueto

Referee Mark Lawrence had little option but to red-card both Tuilagi and Moody, who became the first Englishman to be sent off at Twickenham.

Both players will find out their fate at a disciplinary hearing on Monday.

Cueto says his reaction could be blamed on the fact that the incident came just after he was left pole-axed from a high straight-arm tackle from fly-half Tanner Vili, who was sent to the sin-bin.

"With the two tackle incidents being so close together, it makes it a lot more difficult," Cueto added.

"If one had happened in the first minute, and the second had happened in the 80th, then maybe we wouldn't have had the situation we had.

"Part of your responsibility is to make the right decision, and the right decision would have been to have got up and got on with things.

The guys didn't appreciate one of their boys getting hit from behind Samoa coach Michael Jones

"But it was the second tackle in nearly as many minutes, and it got a bit ugly after that.

"At the end of the day, in those situations, the boys are all close and tight. Once a few fists start flying, it is difficult to stand off and not get involved."

Samoa coach Michael Jones defended his players and claimed Tuilagi was already committed to making the tackle on Cueto.

"It was unfortunate timing, but I don't think there was any malice," said Jones.

"There was a reaction from Cueto, and Moody came in and took a swing at Alesana from behind, and then it was all on.

"I think the guys were getting quite frustrated, and they didn't appreciate one of their boys getting hit from behind, which is what I think started it.

"For Semo Sititi to be involved in that, there was obviously something very awry. He is a consummate professional, but he was aggrieved very much by what he saw."