Les Bleus must have been fuming when they got word back about O’Brien’s meagre one-week ban.
The release of the official decision document, by Judicial Officer Terry Willis, on the Irishman’s disciplinary hearing shows France went all out to see punishment meted out.
France team doctor Jean Baptiste Grisoli and lock Pascal Papé, who was injured when O’Brien punched him in the midriff [or xiphisternum], both delivered damning statements to Willis as he considered the flanker’s case.
Papé was banned for 10-weeks, earlier this year, for a deliberate knee to the back of Jamie Heaslip. He was contacted by phone and gave an official statement on the incident, which occurred in the first minute of Ireland’s 24-9 win over France. It reads:
‘I received a violent punch on the area of the sternum. Due to the instantly pain (sic), I collapse (sic) to the ground and couldn’t breathe anymore. I received care from Dr Grisoli. All along the game I felt a violent pain the area where I had been beaten.’
Papé is back training with France, ahead of their quarter final with New Zealand, but was forced to sit out of their Tuesday sessions.
The evidence proffered by Dr Grisoli stacked the odds against O’Brien even further:
For O’Brien’s part, he stated that he was “embarrassed” by the incident.
At his hearing, in London, he commented, “I just wanted to break free and try to get whoever it was off me at the time.
“I was fully focused on the next play and what my job was. It was early in the game and I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t making any mistakes at that stage, so I was fully focused on my next job.
“I was just trying to get rid of the player off my side and get to where I wanted to be in the defensive line.”
O’Brien does have a very good disciplinary record at Test level. While he has received seven yellow cards in 96 Leinster games, he has never been sent to the sin bin for Ireland or the British & Irish Lions.
In 43 Tests, he has only conceded 37 penalties – a quite remarkable feat for a player that has spent most of his international career as openside flanker.
It was noted in the hearing that O’Brien is an ambassador with Special Olympics Ireland and has organised cycling events and fundraisers for the disabled.
