Dupuy set to answer eye-gouging charge
Tony Lanaway, the citing commissioner from England, has also called upon David Attoub, the Stade replacement prop, to account for his actions in the same incident.
The ERC stated that “the citing is for alleged contact with the eye/eye area of Ulster player Stephen Ferris in contravention of Law 10.4 (1). The independent judicial officer will be appointed as soon as practicable”.
Ulster turned in an extremely impressive performance in beating the French side 23-13 but feelings ran very high after television pictures appeared to show Dupuy make contact with the eye of the Ulster number six on two occasions. Ferris had his scrum cap ripped from his head and subsequently appeared at a press conference with red gashes around his eyes.
“I was on the ground when I felt numerous fingers in my eye,” said the furious Ulster and Ireland number six who had a magnificent game in his side’s victory. “There was no apology. All Julien Dupuy said was ‘I did not do anything, nothing happened’.”
Following a series of extremely serious gouging incidents involving high profile players like Munster’s Alan Quinlan, Springbok flanker Schalk Burger and Sergio Parrisse of Italy and how graphically the television pictures demonstrated what happened at Ravenhill, Dupuy almost certainly faces a very lengthy ban.
Meanwhile, Munster coach Tony McGahan will tomorrow announce his preliminary squad for Sunday’s return Heineken Cup clash with Perpignan. Perpignan are also planning their revenge for what they perceive as harsh justice after scoring the game’s three tries at Thomond Park last Friday although they are prepared to take the blame themselves having conceded 17 penalties to 5 for Munster.
“Every time we go abroad we talk about the need for discipline and the need to adapt to the referee,” admitted Perry Freshwater, their veteran England loose head. “I’ve been saying this for seven years now. Munster put us under huge pressure and at crucial times we couldn’t live with it. Some of the penalties we gave away were dumb. Cut out one of O’Gara’s kicks at goal and we’d have won the game.”
The relief in the Munster camp after Friday was palpable. Defeat would have been unthinkable so it was little surprise that full-back Paul Warwick last night was still more than a little pleased that they survived.
“It was great to come away with the win in a tremendously physical contest and we will be disappointed if we don’t take something from next weekend,” enthused the Australian. “We are assuming some of their missing back rowers will be available – and, if that includes Henry Tuilagi, that will only add even more size to an enormous pack.
“We showed a huge amount of courage to come back after their late try and Ronan’s kicking was just outstanding as he showed his true class. Everyone knows what the Heineken Cup means to those involved with Munster – families plan their holidays around our games. It means so much to them and what it has done for this part of the world.”
Sadly, hooker Jerry Flannery won’t be involved this weekend or for some time to come.
He will have exploratory surgery on his Achilles injury today and Munster team manager Shaun Payne is waiting for the results before commenting further.
Although they appear to have a far easier task than Munster, Leinster coach Michael Cheika insists they are taking nothing for granted as they prepare for the return match against the Scarlets at the RDS on Saturday.
“Because we are in such a difficult group every point and every try is going to count,” he said. “We were happy to get that fourth try at Parc y Scarlets but now we have to make sure we eliminate the negative parts we showed in the second half. There is a mental weakness we have to sort out before Saturday.”
Munster, Leinster and Ulster all won at the weekend but that does no more at this stage than keep all three interested in the quarter-finals. Stade Francais are forfeiting home ground advantage against Ulster by attempting to spread the rugby gospel into Belgium. The Brussels game promises to be a bruising affair after the bad vibes emanating from the clash at Ravenhill.
Belgium becomes the 10th country – and the 50,024-seater King Baudouin national arena the 89th stadium – to have staged Heineken Cup action.
The fans of both sides will assuredly enjoy the occasion but for the players, it won’t make a whole lot of difference. Instead, as England back-row forward James Haskell pointed out, it will be all about claiming the precious points at stake.
“If anything, this defeat will give the players an added urgency,” he stressed. “As a team, we’re used to playing games at the Stade de France but it doesn’t matter where we play. It’s about turning up and performing. We’ve got to make sure that when we go to Brussels, starting on Wednesday, we go there with all guns blazing.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
