BRIAN O’DRISCOLL’S STAMP on Simone Favaro was “a spontaneous act born out of frustration,” according to the disciplinary committee which suspended the Irish centre.
O’Driscoll was hit with a three-week ban for the moment of madness in Ireland’s Six Nations defeat to Italy, marring what could be his final appearance in green.
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The stamp was “intentional”, “deliberate” and “grave”, the three-man panel said in a written judgement which was published earlier today.
But while they ruled that O’Driscoll should have been sent off by referee Wayne Barnes, they found that it was not a premeditated attack on the Italian flanker.
Barnes did not see the incident and O’Driscoll was shown a yellow card sinbinned on the advice of assistant referee Roman Poite.
“Although it was an intentional act, it was not premeditated. The Committee accepted it was a spontaneous act born out of frustration.”
In his own submission O’Driscoll said that he shouted at Favaro — who was on the wrong side of a ruck — to roll away.
“I got up and put my foot on him to try and encourage him to roll away.”
O’Driscoll is currently serving a three-week ban for the stamp and will be eligible to play again from 9 April. In reducing his suspension from the entry level of five weeks for a mid-range offence, the committee took a number of mitigating factors into account.
“The Committee accepted that the Player had an exemplary character and is one of the leading rugby players in the world.
“He is widely regarded as one of the best centres to have ever played the game.”
6 Nations disciplinary panel: O'Driscoll stamp 'a spontaneous act born out of frustration'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=KcmHajpPCg4
YouTube Credit: RBS6Nations
BRIAN O’DRISCOLL’S STAMP on Simone Favaro was “a spontaneous act born out of frustration,” according to the disciplinary committee which suspended the Irish centre.
O’Driscoll was hit with a three-week ban for the moment of madness in Ireland’s Six Nations defeat to Italy, marring what could be his final appearance in green.
The stamp was “intentional”, “deliberate” and “grave”, the three-man panel said in a written judgement which was published earlier today.
But while they ruled that O’Driscoll should have been sent off by referee Wayne Barnes, they found that it was not a premeditated attack on the Italian flanker.
Barnes did not see the incident and O’Driscoll was shown a yellow card sinbinned on the advice of assistant referee Roman Poite.
“Although it was an intentional act, it was not premeditated. The Committee accepted it was a spontaneous act born out of frustration.”
In his own submission O’Driscoll said that he shouted at Favaro — who was on the wrong side of a ruck — to roll away.
“I got up and put my foot on him to try and encourage him to roll away.”
O’Driscoll is currently serving a three-week ban for the stamp and will be eligible to play again from 9 April. In reducing his suspension from the entry level of five weeks for a mid-range offence, the committee took a number of mitigating factors into account.
“The Committee accepted that the Player had an exemplary character and is one of the leading rugby players in the world.
“He is widely regarded as one of the best centres to have ever played the game.”
Read the O’Driscoll disciplinary decision in full here >
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Brian O'Driscoll Six Nations Ireland Simone Favaro Stamp Italy wayne barnes