The hits keep on coming.
Sean O’Brien looks set to join Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony, Jared Payne and, potentially, Jonathan Sexton on the sidelines for Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final against Argentina this weekend.
The widely feared citing for the Leinster man has come to pass after O’Brien was caught by television cameras appearing to punch French second row Pascal Pape in the stomach in the early stages of Ireland’s tremendous 24-9 victory in Cardiff.
It’s another bittersweet follow-up to a memorable game, with O’Mahony ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury and O’Connell set to follow with a hamstring problem, while Sexton looks like being touch and go to faces the Pumas after pulling up with a groin injury with less than half an hour on the clock.
The entry point of punishment for ‘striking with a hand, arm or fist’ at the lower end of the scale is a two-week ban, which would mean O’Brien would miss the quarter-final and potential semi-final, but disciplinary officials can alter the length of the ban depending on O’Brien’s past record, the severity of the incident and the player’s contrition.
O’Brien’s hearing will take place on Tuesday, and while he would be able to appeal any punishment he would be unable to play until that appeal was heard.
