MUNSTER SENIOR COACH Stephen Larkham says that the incident which sparked a brawl during their match with Saracens on Saturday has not been discussed by the province and that it is being dealt with by the EPCR.
However, he said they had spoken to staff about their roles on the sideline during matches.
“Everyone knew that anyway, but we reiterated it to everyone as a good lesson for everyone,” he said. “The 15 players on the field are the 15 players who can take part with anything on the field.”
Munster head of medical, Dr Jamie Kearns, apologised to England international Jamie George and Saracens coach Mark McCall afterwards, for a comment he made during the match which sparked the brawl.
The EPCR announced after the Heineken Champions Cup game that they were launching an investigation but Larkham said the matter had not been raised internally.
We haven’t talked about it at this stage, it’s all been dealt with. We’ve had a couple of good days in training now, we’re very much focused on the weekend.
“Both parties have apologised for what went on and we’re trying to move past it now.
“We’ve obviously agreed it’s not something that was a great spectacle, but we’re certainly moving on now. Everyone has apologised and we’re moving forward.”
Meanwhile, the extent of the groin injury which forced team captain Peter O’Mahony to withdraw before the march has not been established.
“Peter was going to be rested this week anyway, so he’s going to be assessed later in the week, into early next week and we’ll be a little bit clearer as to how long he’s going to be out for,” added Larkham.
And it’s a similar position with Tadhg Beirne who is poised for surgery after breaking his ankle in the 15-6 loss to Saracens.
Tadhg, with an operation, is a longer term injury recovery process. We’re still not sure until we get the report from the surgeon and see how he’s progressed over the last couple of weeks. We can’t make an assessment until then.
Larkham said that Joey Carbery would not be fit to play against Connacht this weekend but that he is not far away from a return from a troublesome ankle injury.
“We’re fingers crossed every week, hoping that he’s right to play.
“He’s not fully training with us this week, but the good news is that everything has progressed and we will see him on the training park this week.
“Again, it depends how he pulls up from those training sessions before we can assess whether he’s available to play,” added the Australian.
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For the love of God enough, the medic knows he did something stupid, he apologised. Can we move on please?
@Paddy: No
@Paddy: you’re forgetting this is a tabloid !
@Paddy: The scourge of fat-shaming in rugger must be ended!
Is this not why in most codes we stop when the ref blows the final whistle turn and shake hands with your opponent and walk off and leave it at that. It’s done the medic apologised leave it at that and move on
@Eamonn O Connell: if this not why indeed!!
He should have went the whole way and called Peter wray a cheating Bollix after the game to.
A brawl….. tee hee. The journalist has more to answer for calling that a brawl repeatedly in the article. The world is coped!
It really feels like sarrys are trying to divert attention away from their problems onto someone else
On reflection George is a bit chubby for an international no 2.
@Locojoe: haha did ye see the little weasel though
Is this the most serious thing in the world? No.
However, there’s a lot of wagon circling going on here from Munster. Seems like they feel EPCR could very well impose a sanction. I’d suggest EPCR could, justifiably, conclude they need to send a message regarding any/all interactions of the teams’ staff with opposition players. While this is just words and handbags, when does gamesmanship go too far? And if doctors/staff know their club could be docked a point (as an example), would we ever hear of any similar case- or, more importantly, something worse- ever again?
@Neil Dunn: Well it’s clear Munster themselves aren’t going to do anything.
The silence from them says it all which is probably why the epcr got involved as this is becoming a habit.
@Bill: Don’t know what you mean about ‘habit’, but I’d tend to agree that not getting out in front of it and saying that the behavior was unacceptable was bad form.
I get that they apologized to those involved, but a sterner tone regarding the behavior itself would seem fitting. Saying it wasn’t that big a deal doesn’t make it sound like you’re going to lay down the law internally.
@Neil Dunn: I mean there was an abusive incedent by a Munster fan on Billy not so long ago.
@Bill: Wonder was there ever a public apology for the leaking incident?
Christ talking about milking a story, did someone even get hit? No. Move on ffs
It’s dragging on a bit now.
A public apology from Munster to Sarries & George, plus a two match ban for Kearns, would be sufficient.
@Robb Stark: ban the doctor? It’s not like they have another in the academy raring to go. A fine may be more appropriate but considering it was neither racist or homophobic something would have to be done about George’s reaction.
@Darren Byrne: you should only react if it is racist or homophobic? Didn’t realise those were the guidelines. The Munster doctor was a moron. No need to get involved. He deserves some reprimand from the EPCR, and then that should be that.
@Darren Byrne: bring in a medical joker …..
@Darren Byrne: Well there has to be some sort of sanction against the Dr as he’s obviously immature enough to do something like this again. And it’s clear that that the club itself is not mature enough to do the right thing and give him a warning.
@Bill: Wouldn’t you love him as your GP?? Doctor I’m not feeling great. That’s because you’re a fat c#nt.
It was a consultation. He should have charged him fifty quid.
Please don’t piss on anybody xx
Any reason why my comment was removed?
So no actual public apology!!
All forgotten about, nothing to see here
@And_Helipad: go away.
There is nowhere else I can post this but the headline from BOD about ‘……overstepping the mark is rich……’ He was captain on the pitch the day that Jerry Flannery called Steve Thompson ‘….a fat c****….’ – a video that went viral I’m told- and that did not seem to bother him. Not for the first time does he (BOD) come across as pandering to his paymasters. Thought he was above that.
Storm in a teacup it may well be but proper governance by any business says it investigates any incident involving their employees or that has the capacity to hurt the business.
Just saw a photo of the little weasel Omg
Typos lads , typos