Referee followed ‘foul play’ protocol in Georgia game 

Joe Schmidt last night backed ref JP Doyle’s handling of suspected foul play by a Georgian player on Ireland flanker Dominc Ryan.

Georgian back row Viktor Kolelishvili’s boot appeared to make contact with Test debutant Ryan’s eye as the Leinster man lay prone in a ruck during the 29th minute of Ireland’s 49-7 victory at the Aviva Stadium.

Neither referee Doyle nor his touch judge Luke Pearce spotted the incident and when Ireland captain Eoin Reddan asked the RFU-affiliated Dublin-born official to consult his TMO, Scotland’s Jim Yuille, for a video review, Doyle declined the opportunity.