Sean O’Brien will miss Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final against Argentina after receiving a one-week suspension on Tuesday for punching France’s Pascal Papé.
O’Brien was cited for the incident, which took place during Ireland’s 24-9 victory over France at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, with the subsequent hearing taking place on Tuesday afternoon.
Joe Schmidt, the Ireland coach, had hoped O’Brien would not receive a ban, arguing soon after the weekend win that the flanker’s fist was not closed when he struck out at Papé. But O’Brien has been sanctioned and will now have to sit out Sunday’s contest with Argentina, which also takes place at the Millennium Stadium.
A World Rugby statement read: “O’Brien admitted committing an act of foul play and therefore the independent judicial officer Terry Willis upheld the citing.
“With respect to the sanction, the Judicial Officer deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of two weeks. The judicial officer took into account compelling mitigating factors including O’Brien’s conduct prior to and at the hearing, his remorse, good character and clean disciplinary record, and reduced the suspension to a period of one week.”
The news is a further blow for Ireland having already lost captain Paul O’Connell for the remainder of the tournament because of the hamstring injury he sustained against France. The lock must undergo surgery, which not only ends his participation at the World Cup but also brings an end to his glittering international career.
The back-row Peter O’Mahony is also out of the World Cup because of a knee injury while the fly-half Jonny Sexton is a doubt following the groin strain he suffered against France.
