The slap surely stung but Donncha O’Callaghan milked it somewhat.
Midway through a tense, Friday night Premiership encounter, the former Ireland second row had a coming together with London Irish forward Saia Fainga’a.
With his Worcester Warriors side leading the Exiles, early in the second half, O’Callaghan and Fainga’a clashed on the fringes of a maul that crashed down and became a ruck. The Cork native, for some reason, had two grabs at the Australian’s dreadlocks.
It sparked an angry reaction from Fainga’a, who slapped O’Callaghan with an open hand.
The big man was taken aback by the smack but reeled back and hit the deck, holding onto his face for several seconds. David Flatman, the BT co-commentator remarked: “”That’s either dazed Donncha O’Callaghan or he’s taken a dive.”
Ref cam ?
Saia Fainga’a slaps Donncha O’Callaghan after the Worcester player pulled his hair ? pic.twitter.com/7ZsmJQ2ioz
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 22, 2017
The incident led to a mini melee before referee Wayne Barnes yanked both men to one side and gave them a stern talking to. No cards were produced for either man.
Warriors ended up seeing out the game well to win 23-8 but most of the talk was about O’Callaghan’s reaction to the slap.
And…….. O’Callaghan is Knocked out.??? Where is the HIA??? 🙈 https://t.co/yu8o8D3ILl
— Jim Hamilton (Vice Captain) (@jimhamilton4) December 22, 2017
Think O'Callaghan needs to go for an HIA, clearly unconscious when he hit the ground #Dive https://t.co/r5y2OceGn4
— Ginge #52 (@Ginge_52) December 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/teegwynn/status/944313792116264960
If donnacha o’callaghan wants to roll about like that he should go for an HIA. #WORvLIR
— not a cnt (@dleashwrth) December 22, 2017
