Flannery to face citing panel after Paris indiscretion

DISAPPOINTING, if expected news for Ireland coach Declan Kidney last night came with the confirmation Jerry Flannery will face an independent citing commission of the Six Nations Championship tomorrow arising out of an incident in the game against France on Saturday.

In spite of Kidney’s assertion at the Stade de France that he didn’t believe the Irish hooker had a case to answer, TV pictures suggested otherwise. Much was made of the incident involving French winger Alex Palisson in the 26th minute by TV and radio commentators and newspaper reports.

“You never know these days, but I wouldn’t have thought so,” said Kidney when asked whether he felt Flannery would be cited. “The whistle was gone, it was a 50-50 ball, two guys collided, the referee didn’t make anything of it. The touch judge had his flag out and thought it was a penalty.”