Reds ‘gave us kick up backside’, Chuter says as Tigers eye Thomond trip

GEORGE Chuter says Leicester’s visit to Thomond Park on January 20 is uppermost in their minds ever since the Tigers’ opening Pool Four defeat to Munster in October.

The England hooker admits the October defeat to the Heineken Cup champions was “a big kick up the backside” and “snapped us back into European mode”

If Munster and Leicester win their round five games this weekend the automatic qualification spot in Pool Four is up for grabs in Limerick on January 20.

“We have got two massive Heineken Cup games coming up and I would be lying if I said that, ever since we lost to Munster in Round 1, the game at Thomond Park has not been on our minds,” said Chuter.

“However, we can only start really concentrating on that after playing the Blues.”

“We know what we have to do (against the Blues) – it is a must-win game,” added Chuter. “However, ever since we lost at home to Munster in round one, every game has been a must-win one so there is nothing new about Saturday.

“I know that 21-19 defeat left us with no room for manoeuvre but it really was the big kick up the backside we needed at that time – snapped us into European mode because the Heineken Cup is different to the Premiership and requires different things.

“Munster came and played the right sort of game for the tournament and took the points but since then we have had a good win in Cardiff against the Blues and an even better one out in Bourgoin.”

Chuter also warned Munster that Bourgoin will be no pushover in Geneva on Sunday. The French club are still searching for their first win of the current European campaign. “They are a very physical and fiercely proud side and, just as it took a fantastic effort for us to win at Clermont Auvergne last season, so it needed another massive game for us to beat Bourgoin,” he said.

Meanwhile Alan Quinlan’s ERC appeal hearing reconvenes in Dublin this evening.

Four hours of intensive debate by an ERC appeals committee in Dublin last Wednesday failed to arrive at a decision on Quinlan’s appeal against a six week suspension imposed on him as a result of an incident during the Heineken Cup game between Munster and Cardiff at Thomond Park on December 16.

The meeting at ERC Headquarters in Huguenot House, St Stephen’s Green, was adjourned as a result of issues raised by Munster that ERC needed to clarify with international lawmakers, the IRB.

At issue is the IRB’s adjusted set of sanctions for regulation 17 relating to illegal and/or foul play and misconduct which were approved last November and implemented on January 1.

These sanctions approve a two-week entry point for lower-end punishments. This could mean a considerable reduction in the length of Quinlan’s ban.

But it appears Quinlan’s ban seems excessive when compared to other sanctions handed down to players as a result of contravening Rule 10.4 (b) — Stamping or Tampling.

Ospreys forward Brent Cockbain, who pleaded guilty after being cited for stamping against Sale Sharks on October 20, was banned for 20 days.

Cardiff flanker Martyn Williams was handed a three-week ban following his red card for butting Ospreys’ Jason Spice in a Magners League clash on December 23.

Meanwhile it is anticipated that

Ulster scrum half, Isaac Boss, should be fit before the beginning of the Six Nations campaign in February.

Boss sustained a shoulder injury against Glasgow on Saturday, but medical staff carried out further tests on the Ireland player yesterday where it was found he is suffering from severe trauma to the AC joint in his right shoulder with extensive soft tissue damage and bony bruising to the joint.