WAITING GAME
Ireland may appeal after O’Brien is hit with one-game ban
THE IRFU were last night undecided as to whether they will appeal the oneweek suspension that has ruled Sean O’Brien out of Sunday’s World Cup quarter- final against Argentina.
The back row was found guilty yesterday evening of striking Pascal Pape in the first minute of last Sunday’s pool-clinching win over France.
O’Brien was cited by the independent commissioner Dougie Hunter, a charge upheld in London after the man of the match admitted committing an act of foul play which Australian Terry Willis, the judicial officer hearing the case, initially believed merited a two-week suspension.
However, O’Brien’s conduct before and at the hearing, his remorse and previous good disciplinary record resulted in the ban being halved, meaning he will be free to play on Sunday week if Ireland manage to qualify for a first World Cup semi-final.
O’Brien’s ban is another major blow f or Ireland after Paul O’Connell and Peter O’Mahony were ruled out by injury, while out-half Johnny Sexton will be touch and go to make the quarter-final with a groin problem.
Argentina centre Marcelo Bosch will also miss the quarterfinal after he was banned for a week for a dangerous tackle last Sunday against Namibia.
Scotland forwards Ross Ford and Jonny Gray will miss the rest of the tournament after being suspended for dangerous tackles against Samoa. The Scots face Australia on Sunday.