“THAT’S SCUMBAG STUFF. You know exactly what you’re doing.
“Hard man, hard man…. unlike you, isn’t it? That’s very unlike you.”
Peter O’Mahony’s instant anger out on the pitch was obvious and audible as he reacted to Tomás Lavanini’s cheap shot hit on Cian Healy from the side at a second-half breakdown.
O’Mahony, the Ireland captain after James Ryan’s first-half injury, was soon apologising to referee Matt Carley for his outburst but Lavanini’s actions warranted a scathing response and a red card.
It’s the third red card of Lavanini’s Test career, while he has been given seven yellow cards for Argentina. His club career includes a further red card and another nine yellow cards.
Post-match, O’Mahony was asked about the incident and gave a calmer, more considered response, touching on his own experience of being red-carded for Ireland in this year’s Six Nations.
“Ah look, it’s heat of the moment stuff,” said O’Mahony following Ireland’s 53-7 win. “I’ve been on the other side of that as well so it’s a split-second decision from his point of view.
“These things happen. It’s split-second stuff for him. He’s trying to make an effort to clean someone out and he’s got it wrong.
“That’s what I thought at the time and you’re trying to look after your buddies, looking after your mates and the last thing you want is for them to get injured.
“From his point of view, it’s tough as well. It’s literally fractions of a second and at the time I was pissed off but I’ve been on the other side of it and you’re talking about hundredths of seconds where pictures change and, you know, red card.
“The disappointment of getting a red card for your country is nothing you can experience, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
O’Mahony was far more interested in discussing Ireland’s victory, which extended their winning streak to eight games.
The Munster captain came off the bench in the autumn wins over Japan and New Zealand before starting today’s victory against the Pumas following a late injury to Jack Conan.
32-year-old O’Mahony said that Andy Farrell’s camp is a very happy place.
“I said it after the game, I speak for the group in saying that it’s been an incredibly enjoyable month,” said O’Mahony.
“I was chatting inside and having a beer there and it’s just been great fun. We’ve learned a huge amount as a group and the cohesion that we have built has brought us to that next level of friendship which is so important.
“Chatting there with Hugo [Keenan] there and I have loved the month. It’s probably the most enjoyable one of my career so far, which has been a while now. It’s been great.”
There was also a happy outing for Joey Carbery in the absence of Johnny Sexton, with a 50-minute run at out-half before he finished the game at fullback.
O’Mahony has seen the 26-year-old’s struggles during injury up close in Munster so he is delighted to see the Athy man back enjoying Test rugby.
“It’s great,” said O’Mahony. “He had a rough 18-month period and he’s an incredible professional. He kept his head down, stuck at it, and he’s gathered momentum now that he didn’t have for a long time just by putting games back-to-back.
“He’s been around the environments and not just rehabbing. Once you’re back in the squad, it’s different. It’s tough when you’re rehabbing, I’ve been there and it’s a tough old period but he’s come back and he’s added to the environment, added to the enjoyment, preparation, and performance side of things.
“He’s driving that on and he’s growing in experience, which is important for him. He’s only young so he’s getting there.”
Originally published at 20.30. This article was updated at 7.35am on 22 November to correct ‘scatching’ to ‘scathing’ in the fourth paragraph.
I know o mahony isn’t the most loved player in Ireland but that’s exactly what you want to see from your captain – leading from the front and calling out Lavinini.
@Jim Demps: he was one more word from getting the penalty reversed. The captain of your country calling a player names is not what you want to see. He did have a very good game all the same.
@Chris Mc: hahahaha you must be kidding me? Calling a player names on a rugby pitch after he’s done that? Have you ever played the game at any level or what?
@Michael Oats: name calling? Does that make you hard?
@Jim Demps: O Mahony has upped his game considerably and deserves the plaudits he’s getting. Vital to have him in the squad. A real leader. Unfortunately Ryan is not
@Michael Oats: they are not robots, you try act cool and calm with a BPM of 150+ while knocking the guts out of one another
@Chris Mc: no but reading your posts does
@Chris Mc: In the midst of a Battle knowing your Captain has your back to that extent well I would call it serious team spirit in that camp.Thats not something that happens by accident either. England may well regret loosing Lancaster and Farrell yet.
@Jim Demps: When did POM stop being most loved player? He has had a big impact on games for years and has been recognised for his hard work for a long time as well. Being captain in a Lions game doesn’t come easily.
@Chris Mc: as much as you hate Munster there is no earthly way the ref was going to reverse a penalty after sending off an opposition player.Nothing more than waffle from him to bolster his authority.
@Chris Mc: no, but it shows that you actually have passion for the game/sport that you are playing.
@Chris Mc: adrenaline mate!!!! One doesnt always act calm and collected when in the middle of a big game with the blood pumping and the opposition player nearly decapitates your team mate! Lucky it was just name calling.
@John Brennan: Yeah all the players seem to love Faz, and there is no doubt that all of the players love playing for him. There is no arguing about what Ireland achieved under Joe Schmitt, but I can’t imagine that there was much ‘fun’ to be had under Joe. Jerry Flannery touched on that after the game on TV, saying that he had never seen such a happy squad, and POM also reiterated that.
@Mark Sheehan: the ref told him he would reverse the penalty so was he telling lies?
@Chris Mc: yes.
@Mark Sheehan: You know he can still give a Red card, and reverse the penalty.
@Chris Mc: if he’d have called him a fxxkxxg s/bag, a serious word would have been had. But a allleged attempt at a clear out that was getting a red was never going to be overturned. So yes the ref was telling a porky.
@Chris Mc: No, but whining about it makes you precious.
@Jim Demps: as a Leinster supporter, O Mahony would be the first player I would pick in an Irish side, any day of the week. Gives his heart and soul every time he puts on a jersey, no matter what colour it is. That’s what you want in a player. Simple as that
@Jonathan Nolan: great comment! The criticism he gets on here is undeserved. Being in a Rugby changing room you thrive with characters like that around you.
@Chris Mc: what planet are you on the Irish captain did not call the Argentinian player names
@Jim Demps: https://youtu.be/CreJDCJWnJs
@Chris Mc: Surely that’s civility gone mad for you to suggest that O’Mahony should just nod his head and act like Lavanini didn’t come very close to seriously injuring someone for absolutely no reason. If that happens to a Springbok the whole team would be in there to defend their teammates. There’s a time and a place to react to thuggish behaviour and that was certainly one of those times – ridiculous of you to suggest otherwise. The game was long since over as a contest which makes it all the more thuggish and unnecessary.
@Chris Mc: coming from someone who never got out of his armchair. Heard of adrenaline and aggression and 70th minute of a game
POM was right, very dangerous from Lavanini
He did the exact same thing if not worst against wales… Argentina and Japan were set up as cannon fodder this autumn by world rugby.. then whenever we play them in WC these heroes are like shrinking violets..: omahoney on a central contract for about a decade, surely we would be better off giving three appearance to Ryan Baird for example and have some proper depth on two years time
@Padjo Mulk: So Japan and Argentina shouldn’t be playing against Ireland? I don’t think they’d agree.
@Padjo Mulk: It wasn’t the exact same and it certainly wasn’t worse.
@Padjo Mulk: yawn. Can’t please some folks
@Padjo Mulk: what a dop ey comment
Looked at lot worse in real time when it happened , a pointless clear out by Lavini . It’s amazing he still gets capped when you look at his track record. You would imagine any coach in his right mind wouldn’t have him near the squad .
It was the heat of the moment reaction from PoM. It was high energy stuff.
Remember SOB, JH, POM….10 years ago
@Stephen Mc Grane: SOB JH and Ferris against oz in world cup was the best back row imo
@Thomas Bohan: one of those 3 probably wouldn’t have started had Wallace not done his cruciate in the last warm up game for 2011 World Cup! The 09 grand slam back row of Wallace, Heaslip and ferris was the best back row IMO.
Lavanini has to be one of the thickest players on the planet. He did aoemthing similar to Tommy Bowe at the 2015 world cup. Tackled him at his knee and ultimately ended his world cup campaign.
Pot Kettle Black
SOMEONE SHOULD BRING THE MAN U TEAM TO AN IRISH TRAINING SESSION WONDERING HOW MANY WOULD PLAY THE NEXT GSME FOE M U