Three-week ban keeps Leamy out of Munster trip to Viadana

IRFU disciplinary chiefs have handed down a three-week ban to Munster back row Denis Leamy, after the UCC ace was cited following an AIB All Ireland League clash with Old Belvedere.

Old Belvedere coach Mike Brewer named Leamy in the citing charge after an incident which left one of his players concussed.

UCC countered that three of their players had been injured in different incidents but, as yet, none of the Old Belvedere personnel have had their cases heard.

Leamy, who denied the charges and was backed by his club, was found not guilty of the accusation that he struck a player with his knee but was given a three week ban for apparently throwing a punch. UCC were convinced that the player had no case to answer on either of the issues and, in response, UCC have charged three of the Old Belvedere players, none of whom have been named.

College spokesperson Charlie Buckley expressed his disappointment at the outcome but said the club might yet decide to appeal the decision. We have 14 days to do so. An equal disappointment was that the matter wasn’t finalised at the meeting on Wednesday evening and we had to wait until today to learn of the decision.”

Munster coach Alan Gaffney was also privy to the video of the game and was convinced that Leamy would be cleared. He has excluded Leamy from the Munster panel for the visit to Viadana today but pointed out that Leamy’s conduct and discipline for Munster this season was “outstanding and exemplary.”

“I am disappointed but this is essentially an AIB League matter and it is probably not appropriate for me to say anything further.” Leamy’s suspension starts from the night of the disciplinary meeting.

Meanwhile, Munster prepare for the return against Viadana with the words of captain Jim Williams in their ears.

“We have to beware. This will be a much more difficult task than Musgrave Park last week. “I’m sure that, because of the lopsided scoreline, Viadana will have learned more about us than we have of them.

“The way the game went meant that it wasn’t very physical. It was very fast but we expect it to be tougher physically on Saturday.

“I am sure they will be much better prepared this time around. Maybe they were a bit overawed about coming to Ireland to take us on and I see this one as a much tighter game. We want to go out and play at a high pace but we will have to play better.

Williams believes this Munster Pool will eventually become a “dogfight” as three teams seek to earn qualification for the quarter finals.

“At this stage you would have to say Gloucester are favourites to win the group but Perpignan could put a stop to them this weekend.

“We have all talked about what might happen if Perpignan do beat Gloucester or if Gloucester win. The most important thing from our perspective is that we win this weekend and keep winning.

Meanwhile, Perpignan coach Olivier Saisset says his team are desperate to make up for the disappointment of losing at Gloucester last weekend.

Gloucester maintained their 100% record in the Pool with a 33-16 victory at Kingsholm, but Perpignan are a mighty force at home.

This will be their ninth Heineken Cup game at Stade Aime Giral and only Leicester Tigers, by a single point last season, have won there.

“This is a very important Heineken Cup game for us. We saw last week just how good a team Gloucester are,” said Saisset. “But I think our team played at a very good level in the away leg, so hopefully we will take our revenge at Aimé Giral on Saturday.

“I don’t know many of the English teams, although having played Leicester last year we have some idea. Gloucester don’t play the same style of game and they don’t have many weak points. They are a very solid team, organised in defence. In short, they are top of the range. Maybe Leicester have little more creative genius, but Gloucester are always looking to do things well.

“They are excellent at holding onto the ball and producing long sequences of play. We will do everything to make up for last week’s defeat. In fact, I don’t think we are much short of their level. They took their opportunities last week and whenever they were going well in the match they scored.

“That’s the way it is in this competition. You can’t afford to make mistakes in defence or attack. We learnt that lesson last year when we almost had the game against Leicester in the bag but lost out to a blunder at the end.

“With this calibre of team, if you don’t take your game to them, the punishment is heavy.”