World Cup News

[big mervyn]

The frustrating thing about incidents like this is that the punishment handed down usually exceeds that which would have been meted out if it had happened in full view of the match officials - possibly a 10 min spell in the bin and no further action.

[Shan]

Boll-cks. POM is gone.

[Jackie Brown]

https://youtu.be/ffU-ANaVads

[justinr73]

Boll-cks. POM is gone.

I'd be surprised if it isn't a cruciate injury. Hope I'm wrong.

[BaggyTrousers]

More importantly, as often happens on matchday, I have now convinced myself that not only will Ireland win comfortably, they will unleash merryfeck on the French and may even reveal several moves never before seen in the game of rugby.

Relax, it's in the beg.

As there seem a few about convinced I must want Ireland to lose, just a little reminder of my pre match statement. Not only prescient but right in all respects barring the unloading of Fibber's sleeve.

Exactly the sort of blood and thunder I had hoped for a few days earlier. I'd go so far as to say that if SOB is banned it will not have been in vain for leaving Pape in a ruined heap gasping for oxygen was not only well deserved but showed the French that Ireland were not to be messed with on the day.

Doyler's 3Bs were there in force and it was just the sort of performance to get an old cynic reinvigorated that Irish rugby incorporating ferocity, as well as Fibber's lessons of control and accuracy, is not dead. The best thing I can say for FibberJose is that what was there that often hasn't been was complete belief, even when it tightened up a little, they just regrouped and put M.zFrog to bed. Hats raised to the entire set up, Easterarse must be a satisfied man, his pack were awesome, starters and reinforcements.

Hope they have something left in the tank for the Argies.

[Russ]

Pape was involved in the injuries to Sexton, POC and POM

[Cap'n Grumpy]

I think the closed fist is going to do for Seanie regardless of which part of it struck Pape.

God bless your eyesight Merv if you can state that is a closed fist but I think that point is moot, he struck him and he will be a very lucky boy not to be banned.

Pretty sure an injustice will occur and yet again a piece of cheating will go unpunished whilst the "natural reaction" of gubbing a despicable cheat cops a ban. It would also be ironic that Burgess gets nothing effectively for seriously attempting decapitation whilst a slap to the ribs gets you banned.

I hate grabbers of the ball, lowest life form on a rugby pitch.

And by the way, if it were the other way round I would say the same 100% , holding guys off the ball is just low, anyone doing it deserves what they get.

I'm absolutely with you on this BT. It was a slap to the body. If the officials aren't going to penalise cheating like holding players off the ball, why should they punish those who deal in justice?

I think he likely will get a ban, but that it should be the lowest level, reduced to 1 week maybe for good record and mitigating circumstances.

Problem, as I see it is that no matter what preceded the punch/slap, in the moment JUST before it occurred, Pape doesn't appear to be doing anything. I haven't seen it wound back far enough to know if he was holding SO'B off the ball before that, but in the precise moment before Seanie's reaction, it looks as if Pape had let go, thus removing the "need" for SO'B to "free himself".

I'm still hoping it will be 1 week max. Any word on a citing yet?

[BaggyTrousers]

Boll-cks. POM is gone.

horlix indeed:

Ireland will lose twin enforcers Peter O'Mahony and Paul O'Connell from their World Cup campaign before Monday is out.

The staggering collateral damage from Sunday's superlative 24-9 victory over France could see as many as three fresh faces join Ireland's World Cup squad as injury replacements.

O'Mahony was due to fly home to Cork on Monday afternoon after suffering knee ligament damage, while O'Connell was awaiting merely the formalities of confirmation both his tournament and Test career were over.

Ireland captain O'Connell spent Sunday night in hospital with a "significant hamstring injury", with full-back Rob Kearney branding his impending departure a "monumental loss".

"Paul O'Connell appears to have suffered a significant hamstring injury and was hospitalised overnight. He's having scans later today to clarify the extent of the injury," team manager Mick Kearney said on Monday.

"Peter O'Mahony has suffered a knee ligament injury and is returning to Dublin today for specialist opinion and will take no further part in the tournament.

"Johnny Sexton suffered a groin injury, initial clinical assessment is encouraging and we await scanning later today.

"After an incredibly physical encounter a host of players are reporting bumps and soreness and will have to be managed, but nothing more serious than that.

"As soon as we have more clarity on the injury front we will be in a position to make decisions on replacement players.

"At the moment, definitively, only Peter O'Mahony has been ruled out.

"Paul was in hospital overnight and he was obviously very sore.

"In relation to Jared Payne's replacement, that's similar too.

"I'd be pretty sure that a decision would be made later today.

"The coaches did meet this morning and discuss a number of different options."

Ireland could also receive further bad news ahead of their quarter-final with Argentina in Cardiff on Sunday.

Flanker Sean O'Brien is expected to be cited for an apparent punch to the ribs on France lock Pascal Pape, and could therefore miss the last-eight Pumas battle.

Ireland are yet to name a replacement for centre Jared Payne, and will now need to seek reinforcements for both O'Mahony and O'Connell.

Andrew Trimble is in the frame to slot in for Payne, ruled out with a fractured foot, while Rhys Ruddock and Dan Tuohy could be lined up to ease the two big losses to Ireland's pack.

O'Connell's Test career appears to be at an end after 108 caps.

The 35-year-old was due to retire from the Test arena at the end of the competition, but the severity of his injury will surely accelerate that process.

The Toulon-bound second row beat the Millennium Stadium turf in anguish and anger after suffering his injury, before being carried off on a stretcher at half-time during Sunday's France clash.

Full-back Rob Kearney accepted O'Connell's World Cup was effectively at an end, admitting Ireland will suffer in his absence.

"There's not much I can say here now in the next 30 seconds that can give testament to his contribution to Irish rugby and this World Cup," Rob Kearney said.

"Of course if he is ruled out it's going to be a monumental loss to us.

"The form he's in is superb. He looks as though he's really enjoying his rugby too, and you always say when guys look like they're really enjoying what they're doing that's generally when they get the best out of themselves.

"If it is the case it would be massively gutting and disappointing, and we'd have lost one of our key players.

"But we've got to get on with it as quickly as we can, and I don't mean that in a bad way. It's just the nature of things."

Kearney hailed O'Connell for "beaming ear to ear" at Ireland's victory, despite fearing the worst on a personal front.

"I suppose the fact that he's been around more than any of us at World Cups, it is difficult for him," Kearney said, accepting O'Connell's fate.

"We felt awful for him, but I think it was great to see the sheer delight on his face after the game in terms of what we'd achieved as opposed to feeling sorry for himself.

"That was brilliant to see and a great sign of the man that he was able to put his own woes behind him and think of the team's achievement first.

"He was just delighted. He was beaming from ear to ear. When you consider that he was so happy and ecstatic after the game given the pain he was in at half-time, it's small little moments like that that make changing rooms after games really special.

"I think at half-time it was mixed emotions, seeing your captain injured heavily and losing your out-half and star man.

"But then you're filled with the huge amount of confidence as well to see Ian Madigan and Iain Henderson come on and their influence has a huge amount of impact on the outcome for us."

Questions:

Is Ruddock fit? Albeit that Henry Henderson & Heaslip could well be the back row, assuming Seannie is banned, I'd prefer to see Hendo in the 2nd row in these circumstances and probably Murphy at 6 but then who on the bench, Ruddock has a bit of bite & power to him.

Then again Ryan & Toner would let nobody down but who the feck can supplement the 2nd row. You'd normally have thought BIg Dan could have a shout but he hasn't exactly demanded a place for Ulster ...............maybe if they need rucks inspected rather than hit, then Big Pete. (sorry couldn't resist).

McCarthy perhaps though I'm not a fan, like Fitzuseless, Billy Holand's Da was a big noise so he must have a chance of going straight to the bench (yeah I know, I'm in a mood) , Dave Foley?

The ould cupboard is looking a bit bare in the pack. Maybe a bit of NH expediency might see Seannie given a byeball

I see zFrogs want him done for assault, maybe we could have Fofana done for his dangerous and illegal lift of Paulie's leg which contributed hugely to the position he was in that resulted in his injury ......... or are we not a whining snivelling bunch of rancid garlic smelling, cheese eating surrender Johnnies who occasionally rip the blue and red stripes of their flegs when they go to war?

[BaggyTrousers]

I think the closed fist is going to do for Seanie regardless of which part of it struck Pape.

God bless your eyesight Merv if you can state that is a closed fist but I think that point is moot, he struck him and he will be a very lucky boy not to be banned.

Pretty sure an injustice will occur and yet again a piece of cheating will go unpunished whilst the "natural reaction" of gubbing a despicable cheat cops a ban. It would also be ironic that Burgess gets nothing effectively for seriously attempting decapitation whilst a slap to the ribs gets you banned.

I hate grabbers of the ball, lowest life form on a rugby pitch.

And by the way, if it were the other way round I would say the same 100% , holding guys off the ball is just low, anyone doing it deserves what they get.

I'm absolutely with you on this BT. It was a slap to the body. If the officials aren't going to penalise cheating like holding players off the ball, why should they punish those who deal in justice?

I think he likely will get a ban, but that it should be the lowest level, reduced to 1 week maybe for good record and mitigating circumstances.

Problem, as I see it is that no matter what preceded the punch/slap, in the moment JUST before it occurred, Pape doesn't appear to be doing anything. I haven't seen it wound back far enough to know if he was holding SO'B off the ball before that, but in the precise moment before Seanie's reaction, it looks as if Pape had let go, thus removing the "need" for SO'B to "free himself".

I'm still hoping it will be 1 week max. Any word on a citing yet?

Leaving a fair smattering of wriggle room their Grumps, but I believe you to be wrong, though you would need to watch the entire episode to get a proper sense of it.

Actually I've just watched it again and had forgotten that it came after only 30 seconds of the game, you are wrong but unless Pape actually pinched flesh rather than simply held his jersey briefly it looked pretty innocuous to lash out at.

I can confirm Seannie's timing was superb, it was a brahmer, a stoater and a pure peach rolled into one malevolent act.

[damianmcr]

Ruddock called up

[FRB]

When are we likely to hear about SOB? Are there time limits for citing?

[Neill_M]

When are we likely to hear about SOB? Are there time limits for citing?

Time limit of 36 hours after the game for citings.

[Samstew]

Ruddock called up

So it takes less than 24 hours to call up the replacement for POM and yet still no mention of a replacement for Payne.

[Dublin4]

Joe has cover for the midfield backs with Earls, Cave, Fitz and Madigan but he needs a back row asap if SOB is out as well as POM, hence I guess why he sent for Rhys.

[BaggyTrousers]

https://youtu.be/6eBMjYILtDQ

Looks like Fitzwankstain is marginally better at golf than rugby.