ULSTER SECOND ROW Alan O’Connor will miss out on the province’s opening Champions Cup fixtures over the next fortnight after incurring a three match ban today.
O’Connor was cited under Law. 10.4 (e), which relates to dangerous and high tackles, for a 59th minute incident during Saturday’s Pro12 win over Glasgow that left centre Mark Bennett unconscious.
Today’s statement from the independent disciplinary committee – made up of Dr Barry O’Driscoll, Rhian Williams and chaired by Roger Morris (both Wales) – commented that Bennett’s injury had been taken into account in the ruling.
The panel found O’Connor’s offence to in the mid-range of sanctions and imposed levelled the punishment of a six-week ban at the 23-year-old. The ban was then halved with consideration for O’Connor’s clean disciplinary record.
The lock will be free to play again on November 3, but given the Pro12 is due a November break, only an international call-up would see him take the field before Ulster’s home fixture against the Ospreys on November 21.
Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend confirmed on Saturday night that Bennett had fully recovered after the full-time whistle in Belfast.
This is the Ulster managements first real test. Are they setting a dangerous precedent? Was the Glasgow collision with Ludik equally citeable?
No.
Problem is, it is unclear whether there was intent or not and if management allow opposition coaches to regularly cite Ulster players out of games without response from Ulster management then the task of keeping a consistent winning team together becomes all the more difficult.
Sure isn’t that what Locks are for? Man’s just doing his job…
It looks like he started low Bennett tried to get to ground, seems a bit harsh to officiate what’s going on in a maul especially when it clapses
Is there a video of the incident?
Type Alan O’Connor onto YouTube and it comes up. Hard to see but looks like he chocked him out.
*choked
There has to be another camera angle. What was shown on Sky was unclear. Panel must have had access to other angles. If not the decision is harsh.