Leinster lost the plot and lost their heads for most of a punishing first half. Cian Healy did not help matters.
Leinster had lost Johnny Sexton and Ross Byrne, his replacement, to Head Injury Assessements after only seven minutes and they were on the back-foot for much of the half.
Sexton did not return but Byrne passed his HIA and returned to the fray. Leinster were 7-3 down when Healy then lost his mind.
The prop forearm smashed Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie at a ruck and was sweating over a potential red-card as each video replay made matters worse.
Healy only saw yellow as referee Pascal Gauzere declared, “No force, no speed, yellow card.”
“No force, no speed, yellow card.”
Should Cian Healy have been sent off for this shoulder to the head? ?
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He returned to the fray with the score 10-3 but was unable to help as Chiefs barrelled over for another try to put the hosts in deep trouble.
Two more Isa Nacewa penalties made it 17-9 at the break but a massive improvement is needed.
UPDATE: Cian Healy has since been cited for appearing to make contact with the head.
In a statement released by the ECC on Tuesday, Healy was cited for “is alleged to have charged into a ruck and to have struck the head of the Exeter Chiefs hooker, Luke Cowan-Dickie, with his forearm in the 17th minute of the match in contravention of Law 10.4 (h).”
Law 10.4 (h) refers to charging into a ruck or maul and under World Rugby’s sanctions for foul play it carries a suspension of two weeks (low end) to 10-52 weeks (high end).
