Vito Kolelishvili was extremely fortunate not to be sent off for this.
Ospreys secured an impressive 21-13 win over Clermont at the Liberty Stadium, on Friday night, to give them hope of reaching the Champions Cup knock-out stages.
The Welsh side had substitute Sam Davies [four penalties and a drop goal] and inspirational captain Alun Wyn Jones to thank for for the victory but most fans were talking about the shove on referee Wayne Barnes.
The English referee, who has often rankled Irish provinces and our national side, with his unwavering, at times dismissive, decisions, was briefly stunned but allowed play to continue.
The Georgian was unhappy with Barnes obstructing play, as Ospreys primed to attack, and stepped offside to give him a forceful push.
Get out of my way! @ASMOfficiel‘s Vito Kolelishvili shoves ref Wayne Barnes and gets away with it! #ChampionsCup https://t.co/KEDCGS1YNc
— BT Sport Rugby (@btsportrugby) January 15, 2016
Kolelishvili received a talking to but escaped a card. He did concede a penalty, which Dan Biggar knocked over.
The forward was hit with a 24-week ban that was then increased to 26 weeks only to be reduced to 14 weeks after contrition and good behaviour at the hearing was taken into account.
All told, it means Koleshvili will not be back on a rugby pitch until late April.
Kolelishvili clearly in an 'unusual' mood last night.
He also gave Alun-Wyn Jones a cheap dab in the chops. Not many do that……
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) January 16, 2016
Seems to me that Kolelishvili is lucky not to get a red…
OSPvCLE— Jane Mahony (@JaneMahony) January 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/deej110994/status/688090393485926405
