In the fall-out from Ireland's 19-18 win over Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday, coach Eddie O'Sullivan yesterday stood by his rather alarming post-match claim that Irish outhalf Ronan O'Gara had been choked by a Scottish player in the last act of the game.
Maintaining that "something did happen", O'Sullivan added: "If nothing happened, then maybe the person involved in the incident would come forward and explain what happened. Then we'd all be the wiser. Is that a fair comment? Rather than me making accusations that everyone knows I can't substantiate in proof. But we all know that something happened. And we all know what happened."
O'Sullivan confirmed that the accusation was prompted by what one or two other Irish players witnessed as opposed to O'Gara himself. "Ronan has the least amount of information," he said. "He went out like a light. If you look at the video, he was kicking out actually. And he was gone blue. John Hayes spotted it immediately and put him into the recovery position. So Ronan just drifted off like. Gone."
Although O'Sullivan brought the incident to the attention of the game's match commissioner, Brian Fowler of Wales, it is unlikely any disciplinary action will be taken. Fowler has 50 hours from Saturday's kick-off time (3.30pm today) to decide whether to cite any players for foul play, but both RTÉ and BBC spent hours examining their video footage and found no conclusive proof of anything untoward. The Scottish management have not added to their stance that they "refute any allegations of foul play".
Ireland will travel to Rome for the last round of matches in the Six Nations next Saturday, St Patrick's Day, with an opportunity to win the title for the first time since 1985 after England's 26-18 win over France at Twickenham yesterday left all three sides level on six points.
In the event of Ireland beating Italy, they could then win the title provided France don't beat Scotland in Paris or that Ireland's winning margin is at least five points greater than that of France. Ireland also have the disadvantage of kicking off first, 2.30pm local time (1.30pm Irish), with France therefore knowing their target when they host Scotland in Paris at 4.30pm local time (3.30pm Irish time).
Due to an error in its online ticket-selling procedures, the Italian Rugby Federation fears that up to 17,000 of the 25,000 tickets for next Saturday's game in the Stadio Flaminio have fallen into resourceful Irish hands.
