Indiscipline a recurring theme for Northerners this season
‘UNBELIEVABLY harsh,’ claimed Neil Doak following Iain Henderson’s 74th-minute red card for what referee Nigel Owens described as ‘careless and reckless’ use of the head into the face of Munster’s Ronan O’Mahony. It was the fourth red card brandished to Ulster in 17 Kingspan Stadium games in 13 months (Henderson’s expulsion followed reds for Jared Payne, Tom Court and Stuart McCloskey) and Munster’s Anthony Foley believes there will be consequences. ‘The rules are clear,’ he felt. ‘Not many people are bound any more when they enter the ruck but you’re meant to be bound and arriving hitting with your shoulder. ‘Whether it’s intentional or not, I’m sure there’s a committee that will sit down and look at all the angles. ‘I don’t think Henderson’s a dirty player so maybe it’s an unfortunate circumstance but when heads collide — or bodies go under bodies under a high ball — there’s definitely repercussions.’ Doak insisted Ulster, who lost Saturday’s penalty count 10-5, will appeal Henderson’s red but whatever the outcome, his team must reflect on a dire season of league indiscipline. They finished joint top of last season’s fairplay league with Connacht. However, while the Westerners are again top this term, Ulster are bottom following three reds (Declan Fitzpatrick, McCloskey and Henderson), nine yellows and four proven citings (Alan O’Connor, Luke Marshall, Roger Wilson and Nick Williams for 17 weeks’ worth of suspensions) in 21 PRO 12 matches — a rap sheet Doak surely can’t condone.