FRANCE SECOND ROW Pascal Papé has been cited for the incident involving Jamie Heaslip during his side’s 18-11 defeat to Ireland on Saturday.
The Stade Français lock was sin binned for what referee Wayne Barnes perceived to be a deliberate use of the knee into the back of Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip in the 52nd minute of the Six Nations clash.
Papé will appear before an independent Six Nations committee this week to answer the citing made by Saturday’s independent citing commissioner, Stefano Marrama of Italy.
Papé’s citing comes under World Rugby Law 10.4 (a), which prohibits players from striking opponents with the knee.
Law 10.4 (a) Punching or striking:
A player must not strike an opponent with the fist or arm, including the elbow, shoulder, head or knee(s).
Ireland are expected to issue an update on the injury status of Heaslip this afternoon, with the Leinster captain having undergone scans on his lower back following his team’s win on Saturday.
Heaslip limped off the pitch seven minutes after the incident involving Papé, and head coach Joe Schmidt indicated that his number eight was “very uncomfortable” after the game.
Under World Rugby’s sanctions for foul Play, suspensions under Law 10.4 (a) carries the following entry points:
Low End: four weeks Mid-Range: 10 weeks Top End: 16 to 104 weeks.
The Six Nations also issued notice that France Women second row Manon André has been cited for an incident in during her side’s win over Ireland at Ashbourne on Friday evening.
That citing comes under Law 10.4 (a), and appears to be related to alleged contact with the eye area of an Irish player.
Law 10.4 (m) Acts contrary to good sportsmanship:
A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship in the playing enclosure. (Alleged contact with Eye(s) or the Eye Area).
Considering that racing lost the game it might be harder to negotiate such “agreements” in the future.
The omission of Casey looks like a real oversight if best isn’t available. Consistent ball from set pieces will be crucial if we are to stand a chance against SA. Casey hasn’t been tested at international level, which of course Cronin ans Strauss have been, but he’s been the form 2 in the country since the start of the season. His interaction with 2 of Ireland’s nailed on starters (poc and pj) would go a long way to getting fast ball from the lineout. Obviously a hookers job isn’t just darts, but a return rate of less than 90% here will crucify us against SA.
Best isn’t a great darts man, but he’s worth a penalty or 2 and scrums are always solid. I think Casey’s lineout consistency is a good substitute for this, with Cronin or strauss making an abrasive carrying impact from the bench in the end game.
I’d like to have seen Casey get a run-out, but against Georgia…
South Africa are one of the top two teams in the world, possibly the best. They almost certainly have the best pack in the world.
If at all avoidable, it’s not a match where I’d be giving a forward player a debut.
True, but they don’t come much more grizzly than Georgia, none of us have forgotten 2007. If you’re going to ease someone in, it may as well be against Australia!
Racing pay his bills, so I’d say they have first dibs on his services, and rightly so.
No one is saying they shouldn’t are they though