Donncha respects ref White

GIVEN THAT the English official was central to one of the most controversial decisions in the history of the Heineken Cup, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Munster weren’t happy at the appointment of Chris White to referee tomorrow’s clash with Treviso at the Stadio Comunale Di Monigo.

White handled the 2001 game between Munster and Stade Francais in Lille when a try by winger John O’Neill was disallowed. To be fair, the decision was made by touch judge Steve Lander but it was to White that Munster captain Mick Galwey immediately ran when he realised what was happening.

“Go to the video ref,’’ he told White, only to be informed that the facility – which by then was the norm in the Six Nations – was not available.