Munster hit back at Danny Care

David Skippers
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Munster have hit back at Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care, who accused the Irish players of play-acting during their Champions Cup clash at the weekend.

Quins had three players sent to the sin bin – one for a late hit on Munster fly-half Ben Healy – but Care was disappointed with the Irish province’s players actions and told the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast: “We thought we were playing PSG a couple of times with all the rolling around and diving and complaining.”

Disputing accusation

But Munster are disputing that accusation and are incensed by the late hits on Healy which has led to him being ruled out of their game against Clermont Auvergne this Saturday.

Munster’s attack coach, Stephen Larkham, said targeting a team’s fly-half is part of the game but he wasn’t happy about what happened in his team’s 21-7 victory at Thomond Park.

“What I didn’t like about the weekend is the way they went about it,” he told the Irish Mirror.

“I think the ref dealt with it, the citing commissioner looked at it and deemed it wasn’t more than a yellow card so I think it’s done. It’s done now.

“The sad news is that Ben misses a couple of weeks because of that.”

Munster and Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray was more diplomatic but feels Care’s comments were unfair.

“I don’t think anything is meant by it,” said the 31-year-old.

“I’m sure if you ask Ben Healy if it was a dive, I don’t think so. There’s a scan on his shoulder that shows you a little bit different.

“I’m not digging back at anyone because I know what podcasts are like. I don’t even know if I will hear it but no, I don’t think that’s a fair comment.”

Murray has also complained of being targeted outside the rulebook in the past, and has called for players like Healy better protected.

“The hit on Ben was just late and reckless,” he added. “That’s not going after someone, that’s just going against the laws of the game and no-one likes to see that.

“Putting people under pressure is different, I think. Putting you under pressure for time or shouting at you, all that kind of stuff, to try and distract you is fine.

“But I think that stuff, especially if it causes serious injury, you don’t want to be putting people out of the game for weeks.

“With everything that has come out about the game it’s definitely an area that needs to be looked at and cared for.

“You probably don’t realise when you’re younger but you do go out every week and you do put your body on the line.

“Sometimes you can get badly hurt and that’s just part of the territory, but as much as the officials and the referees and the people who are in charge can look after players then I think that’s got to be done.

“I think people being out for weeks or going out to try and injure people isn’t the way the game should be played.

“It’s a contact, I know there’s a fine line as well but recklessness and seriously injuring people just isn’t any team talk or ‘prep’ I’ve been involved with, so I don’t think it should be part of it.”

Harlequins