POC gets off for kicking Kearney's head

First topic message reminder :

Just announced that POC isn't going to get any sanction for the kick into Dave Kearney's head at the weekend.

Nobody believes that POC intended to kick Kearney but his action was clumsy bordering on the reckless and he should have been cited. Somehow if this wasn't a match between two Irish teams (Leinster were never going to cite POC)and was a HC match against a French or English team - and the citing officer wasn't Irish - he would have been cited. Still might have got off with a warning but somehow I think Paulie and Munster are very lucky that he's going to be there for the Clermont game.

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

BlueMuff wrote:

Mickado wrote:

Sin é wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:Sin e put the rose tinted glasses away, you are embarressing yourself and starting to look very foolish

As I posted earlier, its the IRB who makes the rules and decides the santions. Get onto them about it.

Neither here nor there, but if you want to drag up citings from Leinster Munster games then Munster aren't going to come out of it smelling of roses. Head stamps, contact with the eye area, high challenges etc.

Sexton only got 2 weeks for this malicious deliberate kick to Maifis head. Dont recall there been such a clamour for him to be banned for weeks on end.

https://youtu.be/9U227_GpgO0

Blue Muff - Why do you insist on turning this into a provincial argument? The likes of Biltong, Bluesman and Ozzy are also participating here and agree that POC deserved to be cited. Neither of them are irish supporters.

In fairness - all they have seen is the isolated clip. Would I be right in saying that Bluesman is a Cardiff/Wales supporter and might see POC as a threat to Warburton's captaincy of the Lions*?

No harm in that - just that not everyone might not be as impartial as you claim!

Wow. Just when I thought you couldn't make yourself look any more daft than you were, you managed it. Bravo.

Surprised at you Biltong - are you not a moderator - always thought you were meant to encourage debating the post not ridiculing the poster.

Rather than querying me laughing at Ozzy's funny, what do you think is my motivation for my opinion on this thread.

thebluesmancometh wrote:The more I see the clip the more I think he should be banned, if I was being 100% honest \Kearney is looking shaken after WARBURTON FOR LIONS CAPTAIN the tackle in the air, and his placement of the ball is slow, and he can't seem to strecth out, POC has nothing obstructing his view, and no players from either side go in for a ruck, maybe in reaction to Kearney looking hurt?, but POC can barely see any ball through Kearneys head but doesn't let his head get in the way of a good strike...

4 weeks for me. It gets worse everytime I see it

There’s a subtext to your posts that I just can’t put my finger on, but i can't take you seriously...

Mickado wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:The more I see the clip the more I think he should be banned, if I was being 100% honest \Kearney is looking shaken after WARBURTON FOR LIONS CAPTAIN the tackle in the air, and his placement of the ball is slow, and he can't seem to strecth out, POC has nothing obstructing his view, and no players from either side go in for a ruck, maybe in reaction to Kearney looking hurt?, but POC can barely see any ball through Kearneys head but doesn't let his head get in the way of a good strike...

4 weeks for me. It gets worse everytime I see it

There’s a subtext to your posts that I just can’t put my finger on, but i can't take you seriously...

I wish I was that subtle!!

Just for the record however, and to ease Sin e's mind, I have been on record as stating for the last 12 months (pre England and Italy) and post GS win that Warburton didn't deserve a spot at the Blues or Wales, Navidi has been our find of the season at 7 and has been far better, and Tipuric has eclipsed Warbs on every occasion he's been given a shot, why would I see Warburton as Lions captian but not deserving of a Wales place?!

Lads, lets all stop the provincial stuff. Individually say you to yourselves (myself included) we won't mention it.

Huge difference between this incident and the spitting incident, what did he get 12 weeks or something.

POC's is much more dangerous but accidental and there is a degree of respect shown by Paul. The spitting one is completely safe yet shows a complete lack of respect.

Mods and non Irish supporters now have prime evidence of why our threads get hijacked by a certain poster's agenda, ruining thread after thread. It's a real shame

I'm a little confused as to how Lunster threads get derailed...

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Mods and non Irish supporters now have prime evidence of why our threads get hijacked by a certain poster's agenda, ruining thread after thread. It's a real shame

+1

Biltong wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

BlueMuff wrote:

Mickado wrote:

Sin é wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:Sin e put the rose tinted glasses away, you are embarressing yourself and starting to look very foolish

As I posted earlier, its the IRB who makes the rules and decides the santions. Get onto them about it.

Neither here nor there, but if you want to drag up citings from Leinster Munster games then Munster aren't going to come out of it smelling of roses. Head stamps, contact with the eye area, high challenges etc.

Sexton only got 2 weeks for this malicious deliberate kick to Maifis head. Dont recall there been such a clamour for him to be banned for weeks on end.

https://youtu.be/9U227_GpgO0

Blue Muff - Why do you insist on turning this into a provincial argument? The likes of Biltong, Bluesman and Ozzy are also participating here and agree that POC deserved to be cited. Neither of them are irish supporters.

In fairness - all they have seen is the isolated clip. Would I be right in saying that Bluesman is a Cardiff/Wales supporter and might see POC as a threat to Warburton's captaincy of the Lions*?

No harm in that - just that not everyone might not be as impartial as you claim!

Wow. Just when I thought you couldn't make yourself look any more daft than you were, you managed it. Bravo.

Surprised at you Biltong - are you not a moderator - always thought you were meant to encourage debating the post not ridiculing the poster.

Rather than querying me laughing at Ozzy's funny, what do you think is my motivation for my opinion on this thread.

I haven't queried your motivation. I just think we have different views on it.

Now, why do you think its funny to have a go at (ridicule) the poster rather than try and keep the debate civilised and not resort to silly jibes?

Bluesman is making claims that are just not true (i.e., its taking a long time for him to come to terms that POC's foot did not come in contact with Kearney's head).

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

BlueMuff wrote:

Mickado wrote:

Sin é wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:Sin e put the rose tinted glasses away, you are embarressing yourself and starting to look very foolish

As I posted earlier, its the IRB who makes the rules and decides the santions. Get onto them about it.

Neither here nor there, but if you want to drag up citings from Leinster Munster games then Munster aren't going to come out of it smelling of roses. Head stamps, contact with the eye area, high challenges etc.

Sexton only got 2 weeks for this malicious deliberate kick to Maifis head. Dont recall there been such a clamour for him to be banned for weeks on end.

https://youtu.be/9U227_GpgO0

Blue Muff - Why do you insist on turning this into a provincial argument? The likes of Biltong, Bluesman and Ozzy are also participating here and agree that POC deserved to be cited. Neither of them are irish supporters.

In fairness - all they have seen is the isolated clip. Would I be right in saying that Bluesman is a Cardiff/Wales supporter and might see POC as a threat to Warburton's captaincy of the Lions*?

No harm in that - just that not everyone might not be as impartial as you claim!

Wow. Just when I thought you couldn't make yourself look any more daft than you were, you managed it. Bravo.

Surprised at you Biltong - are you not a moderator - always thought you were meant to encourage debating the post not ridiculing the poster.

Rather than querying me laughing at Ozzy's funny, what do you think is my motivation for my opinion on this thread.

I haven't queried your motivation. I just think we have different views on it.

Now, why do you think its funny to have a go at (ridicule) the poster rather than try and keep the debate civilised and not resort to silly jibes?

Bluesman is making claims that are just not true (i.e., its taking a long time for him to come to terms that POC's foot did not come in contact with Kearney's head).

Who mentioned the foot coming into contact with the head?

Sin E you are getting very desperate, I suggest you retreat to fight a losing cause another day mate, your trying to start 3 different arguments to get away from this lost one, Biltongs a bully, I have alterior motives, Leinster fans are evil, POC is god etc...

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

BlueMuff wrote:

Mickado wrote:

Sin é wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:Sin e put the rose tinted glasses away, you are embarressing yourself and starting to look very foolish

As I posted earlier, its the IRB who makes the rules and decides the santions. Get onto them about it.

Neither here nor there, but if you want to drag up citings from Leinster Munster games then Munster aren't going to come out of it smelling of roses. Head stamps, contact with the eye area, high challenges etc.

Sexton only got 2 weeks for this malicious deliberate kick to Maifis head. Dont recall there been such a clamour for him to be banned for weeks on end.

https://youtu.be/9U227_GpgO0

Blue Muff - Why do you insist on turning this into a provincial argument? The likes of Biltong, Bluesman and Ozzy are also participating here and agree that POC deserved to be cited. Neither of them are irish supporters.

In fairness - all they have seen is the isolated clip. Would I be right in saying that Bluesman is a Cardiff/Wales supporter and might see POC as a threat to Warburton's captaincy of the Lions*?

No harm in that - just that not everyone might not be as impartial as you claim!

Wow. Just when I thought you couldn't make yourself look any more daft than you were, you managed it. Bravo.

Surprised at you Biltong - are you not a moderator - always thought you were meant to encourage debating the post not ridiculing the poster.

Rather than querying me laughing at Ozzy's funny, what do you think is my motivation for my opinion on this thread.

I haven't queried your motivation. I just think we have different views on it.

Now, why do you think its funny to have a go at (ridicule) the poster rather than try and keep the debate civilised and not resort to silly jibes?

Bluesman is making claims that are just not true (i.e., its taking a long time for him to come to terms that POC's foot did not come in contact with Kearney's head).

Well to be perfectly honest it was the irony of the moment that got me. I was thinking the same thing at the time, you debate an issue and then question a posters motivation as to why they think the way they do. so instead of continuing a rational discussion you have to query the integrity of Bluesman's motivation.

Kinda calling like the pot calling the kettle black, don't you think?

Debate should be encouraged. Siné doesnt agree, big deal. Balance is good. I also think its much ado about nothing too. Sucks that Kearney got hurt but I believe it was an accident too. Not sure how it can be proved otherwise anyway.

If the rule is that it was reckless then maybe a short ban would have been the right decision. Nothing much to get excited about though.

...Drico's reaction to dump tackle POC off the ball does suggest that he may have seen POC actions in a different light to me though. Who knows.

Can we please stop questioning bluesmans motives, he spent 3 years living in Clare, working in Ennis, and Limerick, coached and played at Kilrush, and went to the old and new Thomond and adopted Munster as his team for a while, he has no motive except to comment on what he see's!!

Biltong wrote:Well to be perfectly honest it was the irony of the moment that got me. I was thinking the same thing at the time, you debate an issue and then question a posters motivation as to why they think the way they do. so instead of continuing a rational discussion you have to query the integrity of Bluesman's motivation.

Kinda calling like the pot calling the kettle black, don't you think?

Well, I'm glad to hear what you found amusing.

I wouldn't have mentioned Bluesman's motivation except Rory used his impartiality as a reason for his view to be right. Because I am a Munster fan (so impartial), I'm apparently wrong.

So we now moved into third person mode?

Hmmm, suspicious, maybe SinE was right.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Can we please stop questioning bluesmans motives, he spent 3 years living in Clare, working in Ennis, and Limerick, coached and played at Kilrush, and went to the old and new Thomond and adopted Munster as his team for a while, he has no motive except to comment on what he see's!!

If anything you are anti-Leinster and Ireland.

GunsGerms wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:Can we please stop questioning bluesmans motives, he spent 3 years living in Clare, working in Ennis, and Limerick, coached and played at Kilrush, and went to the old and new Thomond and adopted Munster as his team for a while, he has no motive except to comment on what he see's!!

If anything you are anti-Leinster and Ireland.

Not really, I did work a lot in Dublin, lived there for a while, and the missus is Raheney born and bred, sooooooo yes!

thebluesmancometh wrote:Can we please stop questioning bluesmans motives, he spent 3 years living in Clare, working in Ennis, and Limerick, coached and played at Kilrush, and went to the old and new Thomond and adopted Munster as his team for a while, he has no motive except to comment on what he see's!!

i hope you spent a few nights in Buggles

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:Well to be perfectly honest it was the irony of the moment that got me. I was thinking the same thing at the time, you debate an issue and then question a posters motivation as to why they think the way they do. so instead of continuing a rational discussion you have to query the integrity of Bluesman's motivation.

Kinda calling like the pot calling the kettle black, don't you think?

Well, I'm glad to hear what you found amusing.

I wouldn't have mentioned Bluesman's motivation except Rory used his impartiality as a reason for his view to be right. Because I am a Munster fan (so impartial), I'm apparently wrong.

I did?

I was saying that this discussion did not need to become an inter-provincial battle like it always seems to become. People from outside of Ireland are giving their views too (without any bias towards or against either side).

GoodinTightSpaces wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:Can we please stop questioning bluesmans motives, he spent 3 years living in Clare, working in Ennis, and Limerick, coached and played at Kilrush, and went to the old and new Thomond and adopted Munster as his team for a while, he has no motive except to comment on what he see's!!

i hope you spent a few nights in Buggles

In the town by the chip shop? Red bar? If so not really, went in there a few times with moneypoint crewmates, but didn't do much drinking while out there, easy habit to fall into, pub, chip shop, few things in Supervalu then back to the ferry terminal (burrane, home)

thebluesmancometh wrote:

GoodinTightSpaces wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:Can we please stop questioning bluesmans motives, he spent 3 years living in Clare, working in Ennis, and Limerick, coached and played at Kilrush, and went to the old and new Thomond and adopted Munster as his team for a while, he has no motive except to comment on what he see's!!

i hope you spent a few nights in Buggles

In the town by the chip shop? Red bar? If so not really, went in there a few times with moneypoint crewmates, but didn't do much drinking while out there, easy habit to fall into, pub, chip shop, few things in Supervalu then back to the ferry terminal (burrane, home)

the very one

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:Well to be perfectly honest it was the irony of the moment that got me. I was thinking the same thing at the time, you debate an issue and then question a posters motivation as to why they think the way they do. so instead of continuing a rational discussion you have to query the integrity of Bluesman's motivation.

Kinda calling like the pot calling the kettle black, don't you think?

Well, I'm glad to hear what you found amusing.

I wouldn't have mentioned Bluesman's motivation except Rory used his impartiality as a reason for his view to be right. Because I am a Munster fan (so impartial), I'm apparently wrong.

No that's not the reason I think you're wrong.

More rational/logic based than geographical, but it is insightful that you accuse everyone as having some form of bias - projection as Sigmund would say.

GoodinTightSpaces wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:

GoodinTightSpaces wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:Can we please stop questioning bluesmans motives, he spent 3 years living in Clare, working in Ennis, and Limerick, coached and played at Kilrush, and went to the old and new Thomond and adopted Munster as his team for a while, he has no motive except to comment on what he see's!!

i hope you spent a few nights in Buggles

In the town by the chip shop? Red bar? If so not really, went in there a few times with moneypoint crewmates, but didn't do much drinking while out there, easy habit to fall into, pub, chip shop, few things in Supervalu then back to the ferry terminal (burrane, home)

the very one

Found the pubs in and around Kilrush very odd, very yocal, sorry local!!!!

Biltong wrote:So we now moved into third person mode?

Hmmm, suspicious, maybe SinE was right.

Just for the record this is the post I made that everyone has now (gladly) jumped on. Is it ok to mention that I think the reason everyone is jumping on this is because they have no decent argument other than keeping up appearances as to why POC should have been cited.

Rory: Blue Muff - Why do you insist on turning this into a provincial argument? The likes of Biltong, Bluesman and Ozzy are also participating here and agree that POC deserved to be cited. Neither of them are irish supporters.

Sin é: In fairness - all they have seen is the isolated clip. Would I be right in saying that Bluesman is a Cardiff/Wales supporter and might see POC as a threat to Warburton's captaincy of the Lions*?

No harm in that - just that not everyone might not be as impartial as you claim!

Meantime, a lot of posters here are scrambling for loads of video evidence of Munster players disciplinary transgressions to support their theory of ?

biltong, you say its not soccer. What do you mean by that?

thebluesmancometh wrote:

GoodinTightSpaces wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:

GoodinTightSpaces wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:Can we please stop questioning bluesmans motives, he spent 3 years living in Clare, working in Ennis, and Limerick, coached and played at Kilrush, and went to the old and new Thomond and adopted Munster as his team for a while, he has no motive except to comment on what he see's!!

i hope you spent a few nights in Buggles

In the town by the chip shop? Red bar? If so not really, went in there a few times with moneypoint crewmates, but didn't do much drinking while out there, easy habit to fall into, pub, chip shop, few things in Supervalu then back to the ferry terminal (burrane, home)

the very one

Found the pubs in and around Kilrush very odd, very yocal, sorry local!!!!

sounds lke you know the place inside out.

biltong, you say its not soccer. What do you mean by that?

We were talkingabout instincts of sportsmen, a soccer player kicks a ball, a rugby player runs with a ball.

Therefor I don't beleive the first instinct of a rugby player is to kick to the ball.

Biltong wrote:

biltong, you say its not soccer. What do you mean by that?

We were talkingabout instincts of sportsmen, a soccer player kicks a ball, a rugby player runs with a ball.

Therefor I don't beleive the first instinct of a rugby player is to kick to the ball.

I'd say that Irish rugby players play a lot of different sports from a young age and would instinctively do things a lot a lot of player who only played rugby would.

For instance gaelic players like Rob Kearney are instinctively good under a high ball.

Where did you get your instinct to talk a load of sh1t from Sin?

Just messing does anyone know if DK is ok now and how long he will be out?

Biltong wrote:

biltong, you say its not soccer. What do you mean by that?

We were talkingabout instincts of sportsmen, a soccer player kicks a ball, a rugby player runs with a ball.

Therefor I don't beleive the first instinct of a rugby player is to kick to the ball.

Have you never watched England play?

Taffineastbourne wrote:

Biltong wrote:

biltong, you say its not soccer. What do you mean by that?

We were talkingabout instincts of sportsmen, a soccer player kicks a ball, a rugby player runs with a ball.

Therefor I don't beleive the first instinct of a rugby player is to kick to the ball.

Have you never watched England play?

Shame on you, they only kick from hand though, not from head.

GunsGerms wrote:Where did you get your instinct to talk a load of sh1t from Sin?

Just messing does anyone know if DK is ok now and how long he will be out?

He's still in hospital as far as i know.

He tweeted on Sunday:

Dave Kearney ‏@kearney_dave 14 Apr

Thanks 2 everybody for their kind msgs of concern!Feeling a lot better today.Grt 2 get the win down in Thomond.serious support as per usual!

Mickado - the Indo reported today that he spent Saturday night in hospital. They didn't mention that he was still there.

"resulted in Leinster winger Kearney spending Saturday night in hospital."

PS: Guns - we Irish all have an abundance of the talk Poopie genes!

Sin é wrote:
PS: Guns - we Irish all have an abundance of the talk Poopie genes!

There may well be some truth in that alright.

Sin é wrote:He tweeted on Sunday:

Dave Kearney ‏@kearney_dave 14 Apr

Thanks 2 everybody for their kind msgs of concern!Feeling a lot better today.Grt 2 get the win down in Thomond.serious support as per usual!

Mickado - the Indo reported today that he spent Saturday night in hospital. They didn't mention that he was still there.

"resulted in Leinster winger Kearney spending Saturday night in hospital."

PS: Guns - we Irish all have an abundance of the talk Poopie genes!

Fergus McFadden wrote:Nice gesture but don't think he is out of hospital yet...
#CarelessCoffee pic.twitter.com/9fOI9aqh79

Dave Kearney wrote: @fergmcfadden would u be kind enough to deliver me a few in bed??

That was this morning anway.

He's ginger. POC has surely therefore been punished enough.

Leinster squad update says he was out on Sunday morn, so probably McFadden just taking the pish.

I read this post heading too quickly and initially thought it said "POC gets off on kicking Kearney's head".

I suppose every man has to have a hobby.

George Carlin wrote:I read this post heading too quickly and initially thought it said "POC gets off on Kearney's head".

I suppose every man has to have a hobby.

A word from Joe:


“I guess the concern for us, i think the forgotten man in this is Dave kearney. Dave spent the night in hospital, left the field at a very groggy state after being effectively made unconscious by the contact of the foot, the toe, the shin. I think we are talking semantics when people try to differentiate between different parts of the foot.

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

BlueMuff wrote:

Mickado wrote:

Sin é wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:Sin e put the rose tinted glasses away, you are embarressing yourself and starting to look very foolish

As I posted earlier, its the IRB who makes the rules and decides the santions. Get onto them about it.

Neither here nor there, but if you want to drag up citings from Leinster Munster games then Munster aren't going to come out of it smelling of roses. Head stamps, contact with the eye area, high challenges etc.

Sexton only got 2 weeks for this malicious deliberate kick to Maifis head. Dont recall there been such a clamour for him to be banned for weeks on end.

https://youtu.be/9U227_GpgO0

Blue Muff - Why do you insist on turning this into a provincial argument? The likes of Biltong, Bluesman and Ozzy are also participating here and agree that POC deserved to be cited. Neither of them are irish supporters.

In fairness - all they have seen is the isolated clip. Would I be right in saying that Bluesman is a Cardiff/Wales supporter and might see POC as a threat to Warburton's captaincy of the Lions*?

No harm in that - just that not everyone might not be as impartial as you claim!

Wow. Just when I thought you couldn't make yourself look any more daft than you were, you managed it. Bravo.

Surprised at you Biltong - are you not a moderator - always thought you were meant to encourage debating the post not ridiculing the poster.

Very hard not to ridicule a poster who is behaving in a ridiculous manner

I didn't think it was worth citing when I saw it but understand why some would. He looked to be trying to kick around the head but clearly couldn't. If it had happened in a ruck would it have been a issue. If O'Connell had stuck his boot into a ruck to dislodge a ball and kicked a block in the head, would it be cite-able? Let's say the ball is clearly next to someone's head.

This may raise some issues with generally kicking balls in rucks, which is what this kind of was. I haven't watched the clip in a while so might be mis-remembering.

Watch the clip Thunor, there was no ruck. Kearney was on the ground, no other players protecting the ball or competing for it, POC rushes through, could have picked up the ball or easily jumped on it, but he leads into it with his boot.

Just seen this on Leinster fans... This guy makes a VERY good point.

"Hi guys, long time reader and said I would sign up as there are some really tasteless post going on. I am a munster fan and from reading both forums I really am beginning to worry about the state of the national team, and this thread as with the one on munsterfans really sums up all that is wrong with Irish rugby. I have played rugby for many years and the way I judge incidents like this is how would you feel, if say a loved one was at the receiving end of a kick in the head like this. Clearly you would be appalled (excuse the pun). Poc didnt mean to hurt Kearney that I would hope everybody can agree, but he did and it could have been fatal. When you take the pitch you go out to win in an aggressive manner but you must always have regard for the opposition players welfare, which quite clearly Poc did not have in this instance, which would and should have leaded to a lengthy ban, for stupidity more so than malice. Dont get me wrong I am delighted to have him available for the semis but a ban was warranted.
But I would like people to remember all what Poc has done for Ireland when you have been supporting the man, and other Munster players, as should Munster fans with Leinster players. Rivalry is a brilliant thing and helps us have great games to watch like Saturday, but isnt one of the great traits of rugby that you can beat lumps out of each other for 80 minutes but share a pint and a laugh afterwards? Is this being lost to Irish rugby fans with so many non rugby playing fans ignorant to this?"

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Just seen this on Leinster fans... This guy makes a VERY good point.

"Hi guys, long time reader and said I would sign up as there are some really tasteless post going on. I am a munster fan and from reading both forums I really am beginning to worry about the state of the national team, and this thread as with the one on munsterfans really sums up all that is wrong with Irish rugby. I have played rugby for many years and the way I judge incidents like this is how would you feel, if say a loved one was at the receiving end of a kick in the head like this. Clearly you would be appalled (excuse the pun). Poc didnt mean to hurt Kearney that I would hope everybody can agree, but he did and it could have been fatal. When you take the pitch you go out to win in an aggressive manner but you must always have regard for the opposition players welfare, which quite clearly Poc did not have in this instance, which would and should have leaded to a lengthy ban, for stupidity more so than malice. Dont get me wrong I am delighted to have him available for the semis but a ban was warranted.
But I would like people to remember all what Poc has done for Ireland when you have been supporting the man, and other Munster players, as should Munster fans with Leinster players. Rivalry is a brilliant thing and helps us have great games to watch like Saturday, but isnt one of the great traits of rugby that you can beat lumps out of each other for 80 minutes but share a pint and a laugh afterwards? Is this being lost to Irish rugby fans with so many non rugby playing fans ignorant to this?"

He kinda contradicts himself at the end saying that kicking lumps out of eachother was a great trait of Irish rugby.

Dont agree with using words such "it could have been fatal" any time there is an accident as if to justify a lenghty ban.

Yes player welfare is very important but are we gradually moving toward an over regualted sport with each "outrageous" incident?

The biggest cause of injury and threat to player welfare in rugby is clearing out at the ruck and tackling. Should you get a ban there too if you injure someone cleaning out a ruck legally?

Mickado wrote:Watch the clip Thunor, there was no ruck. Kearney was on the ground, no other players protecting the ball or competing for it, POC rushes through, could have picked up the ball or easily jumped on it, but he leads into it with his boot.

But was he allowed to kick it? The point with the ruck was that someone kicking the ball out in one of those could also kick some in the head or face. People jumping on loose balls are called brave because as things stand at the moment they can be accidentally kicked.

I just heard Schmidt's views which were really a criticism of the Citing Officer (Leinster players better clean up their act and be whiter than white as I suspect all Citing Officers will take a kean interest in them from now on).

His argument of kids watching this on YouTube will frighten kids etc. and that POC should have had to explain himself at a hearing.

But what happens then if the hearing committee decide that POC has limited liability and short ban (or even no ban) - that won't improve the image of rugby to the general public or stop parents worrying about their kids playing rugby - all they know is that they can get hurt.

From my POV the only thing POC is trying to acheive by kicking in that position is knocking the ball dead and giving Leinster the throw in, whereas if he goes and plays the ball it could end in a penalty munster or Munster ball.

Why does he lead in with the boot anyway when there is no clear competition from either side around Kearney, is he dull or as above not brave?? I don't beleive POC is a dull player, and he certainly isn't a cowardly player, which kinda leads me to beleive he is the kind of player to take a cheap shot? I don't think he is but as Sherlock Holmes says 'when you eradicate the impossible, you are left with the truth, no matter how implausible' or something along those lines.

thebluesmancometh - your talking about a split second reaction. POC would have expected Leinster players to dive in to protect the ball.

What I think happened in that they (the Leinster players) thought that Kearney was knocked out/winded from his fall, but he wasn't and managed to present the ball. POC's reaction was quicker than anyone else.

PS - POC isn't stupid - Straight 'A' student in school and do you want to ask him yourself if he is a coward?

Except you haven't ruled anything else. He was unlikely to get his hands on it and could have knocked on. Even if it was a lineout Munster are strong aren't they. Kicking it was the most sensible thing to do from a rugby point of view ( IMO).

If this sort of thing should be banned (and if that's what the majority want) then I think we have to review how the boot is used in rugby as I don't think his is illegal with he current laws (agin IMO).