Ospreys victory under question after Leicester complaint

twinytwo

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European rugby officials have confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the Ospreys' controversial Heineken Cup victory over Leicester at the weekend.
The Welsh region scored a 17-12 success at the Liberty Stadium but at one point had 16 players on the field after Lee Byrne returned from the blood-bin without withdrawing his temporary replacement Sonny Parker.
During this time, Byrne was involved in a tackle on Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs which the Tigers believed stopped a potential try.
"We have lodged a complaint with ERC because, at a significant point in the game, the Ospreys had 16 men on the pitch," Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler said after the game.
"This was a very serious incident in a big match with a 16th player interfering with a potentially try-scoring event at a crucial part of the game."
Ospreys are likely to be hit with a fine for the incident, which will be scant consolation for Leicester, for whom defeat means the end of European competition this season.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12332_5885264,00.html

zAbbo

Leicester has their chances to win, but in saying that - there was no reason why Ospreys should have had 16 men on the pitch and Alan Lewis was livid at the Ospreys staff over it (rightly so)

twinytwo

zAbbo wrote: »

Leicester has their chances to win, but in saying that - there was no reason why Ospreys should have had 16 men on the pitch and Alan Lewis was livid at the Ospreys staff over it (rightly so)

I didnt see the match but if the 16th player prevented a try, they surly cannot let the result stand?

thomond2006

The Ospreys did not inform the 4th official that Byrne was returning to the pitch.

To me that is conviently "forgetting" protocol to gain an unfair advantage.

A replay might be too far but they must be punished in some way..

Three point deduction from their HEC pool next season?

toomevara

twinytwo wrote: »

I didnt see the match but if the 16th player prevented a try, they surly cannot let the result stand?

May possibly have prevented a try, but far from clear cut...The Tigers' main beef is that had Lewis applied the laws correctly, they would have been awarded a kickable penalty which could have completely altered the complexion of the game.

It is vanishingly unlikely the match will be replayed, though the hairsprays may face a fine or sanction. Remember the RWC in 03 when Dan Luger was a 16th man for england in a game against samoa? Result; £10,000 fine and a slap on the wrist.

Podge_irl

toomevara wrote: »

It is vanishingly unlikely the match will be replayed, though the hairsprays may face a fine or sanction. Remember the RWC in 03 when Dan Luger was a 16th man for england in a game against samoa? Result; £10,000 fine and a slap on the wrist.

He wasn't actually involved in play though was he?

There won't be a replay, its just not feasible or really warranted. The Ospreys will almost certainly face some form of disciplinary action though.

spear thrower

I think the punishment will be a fine and nothing more.. Which is ironic cause the fine wont even tickle the money they will recieve for reaching the Quaters.. But good to see Tommy doing the business again..

buck65

I feel so sorry for Leicester.:pac:

Webbs

A fine at worst will be the sanction, there is no 16th man on the pitch just 16 players so to say that the '16th man' influenced play would be incorrect, the Ospreys (or any other team in this situation) would not have left the full back position unfilled so if it hadnt been Byrne it would have been someone else in that position.
Leicester are just trying it on and as far as they are concerned its hypocritical in the extreme to accuse another team of cheating, its just karma in my eyes

dreamer_ire

I saw something on another site saying that Tommy Bowe spotted the situation and stepped off the pitch thereby ensuring there were only 15 Ospreys. Anyone else here this?

super_furry

If it was any other team I could maybe have a degree of sympathy, but Leicester? Really?

anonymous_joe

The precedent is a fine.

England did it against Samoa, and someone else did it against someone else. (I saw this on another forum a while back. Or even on this forum. Can't remember.)

Podge_irl

anonymous_joe wrote: »

and someone else did it against someone else. (I saw this on another forum a while back. Or even on this forum. Can't remember.)

Whoa, enough details already :P

Samoa were actually awarded the appropriate penalty, but you can hardly replay a game because a ref didn't award a penalty when it should have been.

Stev_o

Ospreys now are saying that Leicester had 16 men on at the same time aswell. Mean come on, iv zero resepct for these shower they go around Europe pointing their fingers at everyone they can to invoke bans after they loose a match or one of their own is sent off. Disgracefull bunch who i hope get humilated in the knock outs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVKxOuQf4jk

Both players are highly involved during the time with 16 men on the field.

anonymous_joe

Podge_irl wrote: »

Whoa, enough details already :P

Samoa were actually awarded the appropriate penalty, but you can hardly replay a game because a ref didn't award a penalty when it should have been.

I have an awful ability to remember all the exact details of an issue, but never its name. My contract law exam was a work of beauty as a result... ><

buck65

Stev_o wrote: »

Ospreys now are saying that Leicester had 16 men on at the same time aswell. Mean come on, iv zero resepct for these shower they go around Europe pointing their fingers at everyone they can to invoke bans after they loose a match or one of their own is sent off. Disgracefull bunch who i hope get humilated in the knock outs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVKxOuQf4jk

Both players are highly involved during the time with 16 men on the field.

Are this bunch the Ospreys?

I reckon they might take Biarritz!
Fock Leicester

toomevara

Byrne's been banned for two weeks, thus missing the 6N opener against England and the Hairsprays have been fined 25,000 euros.

ScrubsfanChris

toomevara wrote: »

Byrne's been banned for two weeks, thus missing the 6N opener against England and the Hairsprays have been fined 25,000 euros.

Linky:
http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5894343,00.html

thomond2006

Why has Byrne been banned? Strange.

It's the idiots that put him on that should only be punished.

anonymous_joe

thomond2006 wrote: »

Why has Byrne been banned? Strange.

It's the idiots that put him on that should only be punished.

Apparently he did it of his own volition?