Bad day at the office: Brian O'Driscoll
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Ireland centre Brian O'Driscoll has been cited for stamping on Italy flank Simone Favaro in Saturday's Six Nations clash in Rome.
O'Driscoll was sent to the sin-bin for only the second time in his 14-year professional career in the first half of the defeat to Italy at the Stadio Olimpico after bringing his leg down on Favaro's chest, causing the Azzurri openside to yell out in pain.
A brief statement issued by the tournament organisers confirmed that independent citing commissioner Aurwel Morgan has decided the incident warranted further scrutiny.
The date and location for 34-year-old O'Driscoll's hearing has yet to be announced.
Comments
brands says...
bout time, filthy player, I remember back in 05 on the Lions tour he tried to flip over Tana Umanga but came off second best and cried like a girl.
Posted 05:41 20th March 2013
kennyisgay says...
No surprise from a player who like O'Gara has been getting away with it for years. Both have the temperament of a two year old. Both will end on a low they deserve. You reap what you sow sook
Posted 20:15 19th March 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
@cliffguy - it would have been a cynical attempt to get a penalty and yellow if BOD hadn't done it. As it was it was a perfectly legitimate piece of professionalism. It may not fit with the "man's game" view of the sport or the false spirit of fair play that exists.
If we don't want football style histrionics in the game, we shouldn't stamp on people.
Posted 16:32 19th March 2013
lacroix says...
always thought it was silly to claim o driscoll was somehow above this sort of thing- he's never been afraid of a crafty elbow, stamp, block or take out off the ball...just hasnt been so dim as to do this so blatantly.
its not the worst offence and he'll get some pathetically short ban. and obviously he shouldn't be going on the Lions tour anyway- he's been playing on his reputation for a while now. if he's supposed to lend a wise old head and experience to a team then his perfomance in this match more than gives the lie to that. quite aside from the stupid stamp he had a shockingly poor game.
Posted 16:12 19th March 2013
TheGreatOne says...
@new_j4a Hook, line and sinker once again. Ha, ha, ha, ha
Posted 13:05 19th March 2013
new_j4a says...
@TheGreat_ET, who says "headbutted, punched, shoved and kicked her way through several" family reunions....that was your grandmother, right? Got home and found her spawn had found the secret supply of Klipdrift she was saving for the Poffadder Rugby Club
Posted 12:08 19th March 2013
munkian says...
He got away with gouging Henson in the Wales 2005 game, great player but a bit of a brat when things aren't going his way
Posted 11:39 19th March 2013
Coshie78 says...
To be fair, he needs a rest anyway.
He looked fatigued all game.
He was probably getting very frustrated with the game as well, he probably didn't picture his last 6 nations game being a defeat to Italy.
These aren't mitigating factors but maybe explain why he acted out of character. BOD is generally in better condition physically, he had a long injury lay-off and he is definitely more accustomed to winning than losing.
He should be banned, but closer to the minimum recommendation for me. He didn't exactly put his weight behind it, it could have been a lot worse. The Italian player had a bit of magic sponge treatment and was right as rain afterwards.
Posted 11:02 19th March 2013
Irishzimbabwean says...
TheGreatOne - we must have been watching different Lions tours.....
Posted 10:34 19th March 2013
Shoobydo says...
@quid_dub Spot on, but it was still a brainless thing to do by BOD, especially given that the penalty was already given against the Italians for holding on.
I don't want to excuse what he did, but there is a world of difference between this and a spear tackle or stamping on somebody's knee.
Posted 10:16 19th March 2013
new_j4a says...
A small mistake from a true legend and "world heritage" player....hope he is on the Lions tour after being robbed the last time. As for Freddie, did anybody see a punch landed?
Posted 10:16 19th March 2013
Cliffguy says...
I'm a Welsh fan but always a huge admirer of
BOD, one of the few really great players. Yes it was surprisingly silly,
No doubt the result of frustration. But the guy on
the floor wasn't badly hurt, really made a meal
of it, it was a cynical attempt to get penalty
and yellow. Lots of players do this unfortunately.
But to compare this with what happened to BOD in
NZ is ridiculous and insulting IMO.
Posted 10:09 19th March 2013
TheGreatOne says...
I remember his shenanigans during the Lions Tour of SA where he headbutted, punched, shoved and kicked his way through several games.
Posted 09:48 19th March 2013
faustotesta says...
benski.
Sounds like you've never been inside a rugby pitch (i mean playing the game).
I was for about twenty years. I just want to let you know that, sometimes, getting stamped hurts. the Italian team did not need at all the istrionic things you're mentioning. I saw an undisciplined Irish side, a complacent referee (which i do not blame because he is part of the game) and a winning Italian team. These are facts. It's not the end of the world. it's just game. Relax guys
Posted 09:32 19th March 2013
benski says...
Oh come on, this is nothing, the dude on the ground should get cited for crying like a baby. I noticed the Italians were well into the whole histrionics thing, diving and crying to the ref, that's far more dangerous to our game than a little bit of shoeing if you ask me.
Posted 08:55 19th March 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
before we canonize BOD, and say how uncharacteristic his behaviour is, I've been watching him for years and he's never been afraid to leave the odd boot/elbow/knee in.
In fact the uncharacteristic part of this incident was that it was so blatant. There was also a hand to face immediately afterward which is lucky not to be in the citing report.
Not a criticism of him, I don't believe you can play at this level without a little bit of an edge but there is certainly a level in the sport where those with a bad name get away with far less than those with a good one.
No evidence to back this next one up, but it feels like there is much less Pro12 citing reported on PR than AP, is that a feature of a more relaxed attitude. cleaner play or am I just not focussing on the Pro12 citings when they appear?
Posted 08:29 19th March 2013
irishzimbabwean says...
Quin_dub, thanks for bringing some insight into this.
Konadog obviously cannot see the difference between a bruised chest and a broken neck.
Posted 07:44 19th March 2013
faustotesta says...
A great talent in the wrong Brain. Sad to see such a celebrated player acting like a frustrated teenager. At the end Rugby is just a game. Winning is not the only option. Sometimes one could lose....It's not the end of the world.
As an Italian fan i'm very happy for the win. On the other side, having lived for a while in Ireland and having had the chance of appreciating the country and its People, i didn't like at all the way Ireland has dealt with the defeat. Plenty of indiscipline during the game. No news at all of the game on irishrugby.ie.
That's sad. i hope Mr. O'Driscoll gets what he deserves. A lenghty ban for his childish behaviour
Posted 06:57 19th March 2013
konadog says...
well Highly ironic really , consider all the talk when BOD was spear tackled in 05 , guess the boot is on the other foot
Posted 05:23 19th March 2013
Ramage says...
Surely not! St Brian?
Posted 01:53 19th March 2013