THERE ARE NO hard feelings on Hugo Keenan’s side. He actually feels sympathy for Freddie Steward, knowing as he does the difficulties of being at number 15 and the general complexities of rugby.
The pair of them collided heavily last weekend at the Aviva Stadium, with Keenan getting a sense of the sheer bulk of the 6ft 5ins, 110kg England fullback. Steward’s elbow smashed into Ireland international Keenan’s head in jarring fashion, forcing the Irishman off for a Head Injury Assessment he didn’t return from.
Steward was red-carded by referee Jaco Peyper but that decision was overturned at a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday evening, with the committee deciding it should only have been yellow. It’s a decision Keenan has no qualms with.
“It’s probably fair enough, isn’t it?” said Keenan yesterday.
“It’s up to the citing commissioners and the refs to make those decisions but it was a bit of an accident, wasn’t it? He was very apologetic nearly straight away after and then after on the pitch as well.
“As a fellow fullback, I feel for him in those positions. I think it was just one of those sort of rugby incidents, it’s not like it was a reckless high challenge or anything like that.”
Steward and Keenan caught up on the pitch afterward, when the Englishman apologised again and the Ireland fullback “accepted it completely.”
The collision has sparked huge debate in the rugby world, with the discussion raging on in the wake of Steward’s red card being rescinded. As Keenan pointed out, this was an extremely rare situation.
“It was a weird incident,” said Keenan. “You never really see it. They’re just trying to eradicate any contact with the head and it’s obviously an important issue to get right, but it’s probably more so for the high tackles or dangerous clearouts.
“It’s a tough one to know, so you just have to trust the higher powers and refs and citing commissioners to do their job to the best they can, and make the best call they can.”
Keenan was speaking yesterday on his first day back in Leinster camp after an enjoyable few nights celebrating the Grand Slam. He hopes to complete his return-to-play protocols and be back in full training next week to be available for his province’s Champions Cup round-of-16 clash with Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.
Despite the heavy collision with Steward, Keenan explained that he has no blank spots from last Saturday’s win over the English and what followed.
“I remember it all,” said Keenan. “It was a good whack but I still knew exactly where I was, what the score was, everything about the game. So it was a pretty close call, I just failed the HIA.
“I think with the independent doctor, I was a small bit down on one of the tests so between that and the actual video evidence, you just have to trust the advice of the doctors. I was obviously mad keen to get back out there and very disappointed not to be able to because I certainly don’t like watching the games from the sideline.
“Jeez, the stress levels and the anxiety, oh God, I’m not used to it and I don’t want to get used to it. But thankfully, the lads stepped up and were brilliant. Jimmy [O'Brien, his replacement] did a great job and the whole 1 to 23 were brilliant.”
It was a superb Six Nations for Keenan, who played every minute up until being forced off last weekend and who has deservedly been nominated for player of the championship along with Ireland team-mates Mack Hansen and Caelan Doris.
Typically, Keenan brushes it off by crediting the team. While he’s obviously part of an excellent collective, his individual form has been remarkable.
He’s not pausing to reflect too much now that he’s back on Leinster duty and so keen to add to the achievements he has enjoyed with Ireland. He reminded us that he has yet to win a trophy in blue.
“We’re already trying to turn the page and focus on the URC and Champions Cup because I still I don’t have one of them to my name, so that’s where the focus is going to be on now and where all the attention is,’ said Keenan.
“We’re into finals rugby now so it’s exciting.”
Hugo Keenan was speaking on behalf of Energia, launching their ‘Think of the Possibilities’ campaign which shines a light on the volunteers doing invaluable, unseen work at Irish Rugby’s grassroots.
To hear from Hugo about the people that guided and saw the possibilities in him, click here.
That Munster team should not be losing to that Cardiff team.
@The Irish Pain: also think the team hasn’t lost it’s way since Rassie left.
@The Irish Pain: ***has
And now we see why Keatley just isn’t of a good international standard. I understand he’s playing his best rugby this season but he isn’t at a high enough level for ireland or back up 10 to sexton. He wasn’t to blame for munster losing but he was anonymous for most parts and is still prone to errors at crucial times.
@Anthony Davoren: keatley issue is playing with that moron dunc the muppet.
@Shougeki: cool the jets with the abuse.
@The Irish Pain: yeah , no need for personal abuse but the half backs, all of them bar Murray obviously are sub standard if munster have any high end ambition going forward !!
@The Irish Pain: I dont mean to demean him as a man, and apologies if it came across as abuse but he has no right to be playing professional rugby. I honestly reckon sometimes we would be better off fielding 14 than having “dunc the bunk” on the pitch. He is dreadful. Only munster player i have thought would be better of they picked a randomer from the crowd.
@Shougeki: Best Fans In The World TM (c)
@Shougeki: keatley is just simply USELESS. He wouldent even make a school team & a Coward as well
@Murf: and Shougeki: You pair are an embarrassment to your club and Irish rugby
@Shougeki: Agree totally – reminds me of Tomas O’Leary, only worse.
@Causasua: he reminds you of a player selected to tour with the Lions having been a crucial member of a Grand Slam winning side?
As long as we persevere with Williams we are going nowhere. He is clearly not up to standard which poses the question what are his connections to the top of Munster rugby????? Useless against Zebre two weeks ago and the same tonight. Wouldn’t get near the starting line up of any other pro 14 team.
Dreadful.
@Munsterman: it was worse than dreadful!!!!
10 changes didn’t help. But 9 & 10 were very poor. Keatley’s kicking was shocking in the first half. Understandable that he’s released from Carton! Williams kicked all day to absolutely no effect, apart from gifting Cardiff a try & continuously giving them back possession. Poor leadership on the pitch. Game plan did not work for 75% of the game. Our panel is v weak as shown when our internationals are away.
@Paddy Murphy: panel is strong, it’s literally our halfbacks are the problem.
@thesaltyurchin: Bleyendaal is quality but you need a better 9 than Williams or Hart for sure.
You cant win rugby matches if you have a poor 9/10 , they contributed to 14 pts by errors
We should have killed them off when they had rees in the bin. Fair duce to Williams for his contribution but seriously we definitely have better scrum halves in the munster academy. Thought he slowed the game way down which played into Cardiffs hands at a time we should have killed them. We got 1 point when 5 points were there for the taking
@Kenneth O Connor: What’s the story with James Hart? only getting 10 mins in game like this suggests he’s not rated at all
@Sean Mannion: last time he got a run he was worse than Williams. We need Strings 2.0 (kid a Connacht with a bullet pass)
@Sean Mannion: yeah, what is the story with Hart? Can anybody comment – is Willians a better option or what’s happening there?
Dreadful watching. Really unimaginative tactics and sloppy execution, still trying to maul win games, and with the same problems at 9 and 10 as 5 seasons ago its no wonder we can’t create anything outside, glad Keatley can crack a wry smile when it puts another one out on the full (are we allowed to talk about how crap he can be again now or still a no go?) at least Williams is gone at the end of the season, you could make a cup of tea in the time he has at the back of a ruc, and it’s still not enough. Ref way off on Cronin, Cardiff deserve the win tho. Least we got a losing bonus I suppose.
@thesaltyurchin: where have you seen that Williams is gone at the end of the season?
@Jim Demps: Word on the street.
@thesaltyurchin: didn’t he sign a new contract recently?
@thesaltyurchin: whats the story with james hart?
@Johnny A: Slept with the wrong persons wife presumably!
@thesaltyurchin: I thought he signed a new contract
@thesaltyurchin: Williams has a new 2 yr contract
So incredibly blunt in attack it’s ridiculous. There’s not the slightest bit of creativity there at all, which lead to them constantly kicking the ball away. No evidence of back moves or anything. Dreadful. The defense in the first half was also shocking.
Williams not good enough. Poland did well last week when he came on. Harte also not at the races. Keats is a confidence player, one wheel comes off they all come off. Not one of his better games but others didn’t cover themselves in glory either. Ref had a howler too though. Missed knock on for 1st try and awarded penalty against Cronin for a legit steal. 10 points. Did I say Williams isn’t good enough.
People need to manage their expectations a little bit. Sure we should be beating Cardiff but these blips happen in a season. Especially when you’ve changed your head coach mid season. There has been a huge amount of turmoil over the last 2 years and for me the players have been doing exceptionally well given all that has gone on. For me a successful season will be making a semi in the champions cup and the same in the pro 14. Anything beyond that will be a great season. From there van graan can build during the off season.
Duncan Williams masterclass