French media ramp up pressure on O’Connell

Munster Rugby and the IRFU were both maintaining a dignified silence last night following accusations in a French newspaper that pressure had been applied to avoid Paul O’Connell being cited for the alleged striking of Leinster’s Dave Kearney.

As the build-up to this Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final clash between Munster and ASM Clermont Auvergne in Montpellier intensifies, Midi Olympique ramped up the tension by yesterday running a two-page spread headlined “Magouilles a l’Irlandaise” (“Irish Shenanigans”).

Independent Citing Commissioner Eddie Walsh chose not to pursue an incident which saw O’Connell’s shin connect with Kearney’s head during the April 13 derby and resulted in the Leinster player being hospitalised.