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.

While Leinster boss Joe Schmidt expressed outrage at the failure to cite O’Connell, the French newspaper went further, suggesting: “Conspiracy theory. Could there be Irish mafia guiding world rugby behind the scenes? Excessive? Certainly.”

Also referring to Ronan O’Gara’s suspension of “only one week” earlier in the European campaign and this weekend’s referee Nigel Owens’ presence in the Leinster-Munster clash and “of all those historic successes (Heineken Cup Finals) of Munster”, the unnamed source concluded: “One has the right to investigate this unfortunate collision of circumstances.”

Both the IRFU, whose chief executive Phillip Browne is mentioned in the article, and Munster Rugby, declined to comment on the Midi Olympique spread. Munster were not accused of any dealings in the so-called conspiracy but the articles are sure to add some spice to this weekend’s much-awaited Heineken Cup semi-final contest.