Interesting to see that Peyper never received an apology from Johnny or Leinster - and surprising that full 50% mitigation was applied despite that (the committee seeing that he had shown sufficient remorse for his actions (and explicitly not just self-pity).
Still far from ideal for Ireland - our best ten will be going into the RWC completely raw.
jesus there’s some bitterness going on here.
I'd be unhappy too if I was them. He was found guilty, showed no remorse and still had his ban halfed.
From an Irish point of view I see no actual evidence for a ban so it seems harsh.
Truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
They didn't really have proof, Sexton admitted it himself, which is the reason why the suspension was halved.
The doctors did not say that, they just said he was fit. Farrell said he would have some involvement in all three matches in order to be match fit. Which he would obviously say.
Time in camp is best spent on Crowley and Byrne who will now have larger parts to play in the warm ups. This decision makes zero difference to the likelihood of Frawley being involved in a knockout game - it would need 2 flyhalf injuries and for those to come in such a way that cover can't be brought over.
Exactly - He's hardly going to go into the hearing and say "Well, he was never going to play those games anyway so the ban shouldn't really apply to those games".
Of course he's going to say "He would absolutely have been in contention of selection for all those games so a ban covering those games is definitely a penalty"
I guess the fact that incident 3 of alleged misconduct was Johnny going towards Peyper to apologise and being sent away counts as an apology.
Also Sexton contacted the head of the officialsfor epcr to apologise (as post match contact is supposed to go through him) and nothing was passed on.
57 days it took then to bring this to a conclusion... 57 days!
none of the four officials actually heard exactly what was said, and while the actions were clear, they amounted to nothing more than gesticulations and "looking / staring at" the officials.
sexton apologised two days after the incident to the head of the match officials, saying emotions got the better of him.
im very glad those looking for their pound of flesh are very disappointed.
This decision makes zero difference to the likelihood of Frawley being involved in a knockout game
Exactly. A few days ago, there was the possibility that Sexton would be banned for the RWC, in addition to his injury risk, and still we didn't call anyone up. We now know he'll be available, so why would we call anyone else up now?
But furthermore - Frawley is the out-half cover. If we get a couple of injuries, then yes, Frawley will start or bench in a knock-out game. That is absolutely the plan and tbh, I wouldn't be shocked if Frawley travels in the first place at the expense of Crowley or Byrne.
He apologised to the EPCR guy Tony Spreadbury because he had shouted/"sprayed" at him too. There was no indication that Johnny was also apologising for his actions towards the refereeing team.
Such is indicated in TS's statement: "I received a text message from Johnny Sexton explaining that he wished to apologize for the way he had spoken to me during the match... Sexton did not mention the match officials during the call, so I took his apology as being solely to me personally; rather than as a general apology to the match officials"
Though the report does indicate that Johnny is going to apologise directly to the ref team too.
Interesting from the legal perspective if nothing else!
I think if e.g. Byrne got a multi week injury then cover is coming over from Ireland and I wouldn't discount them starting ahead of Frawley at all. But Frawley is absolutely the squad cover.
You wouldn't be shocked if the outhalf cover is in the 33 man squad is
Sexton, Byrne Frawley
or
Sexton Crowley, Frawley?
ok
But furthermore - Frawley is the out-half cover. If we get a couple of injuries, then yes, Frawley will start or bench in a knock-out game.
That’s incredibly unlikely to happen tho. The likelihood is Carbery would be called up to cover an injury imo.
There’s also the possibility that Ireland could go 6/2, or even just stick with the starting 10 for the 80.
That is absolutely the plan and tbh, I wouldn't be shocked if Frawley travels in the first place at the expense of Crowley or Byrne.
I would definitely be shocked if that happened tbh.
If Sexton was ready to go 100% I wouldn't be surprised to see a utility back who could cover 10 (if one was good enough I don't think Frawley is. I mean Id class him as Leinster's 6th choice Centre and maybe 4th choice 15).
But at the expense of Crowley or Byrne??
Frawley might go in the 33. But I just don’t see it happening at the expense of Crowley or Byrne.
Right now, they along with Sexton are the 3 10’s that almost certainly will be travelling, fitness permitting.
I just don’t see any way that Frawley goes as the 3rd choice 10 in the squad.
Unless Harry Bryne is playing out of his skin, it's Sexton, Bryne and Crowley. I imagine Harry and Crowley will split 2 of the warm ups, with Ross starting vs England
I make it 59 but still a ridiculous delay.
Sexton saying that he went towards the officials to apologise for his initial reaction to them. I hope the posters that couldn't accept Kleyn's word will be more understanding here as it would be awful of them to attempt to tarnish the reputation of a great Irish player and our captain.
sorry, you are correct... 57 days!!!
may 20th to july 16th
ill put that down to my new varifocal glasses that are wrecking my head. i still trying to get used to moving my head to look through a certain point of the lens. its a PITA
Hopefully people have regained consciousness now. To be clear, I meant "I wouldn't be shocked" in its literal sense.
I think Byrne and Crowley will go, but I absolutely don't think anyone else will be brought in ahead of Frawley if it came to it. I can't see any way Carbery (or anyone else) takes no part in the training squad but is parachuted back into the middle of the tournament and Frawley rides the pine. That really doesn't fit with Farrell's MO.
I also think people have forgotten just how highly Frawley is (or was, anyway) regarded at out-half by Farrell despite a negligible body of work for Leinster.
Maori tour - Frawley started both games at 10
Emerging Ireland tour - Frawley identified by the mgmt pre-tour as a key player they wanted to look at (as an out-half)
New Zealand 'A' game - Frawley started at 10 (then gets injured...)
Six Nations - Frawley is brought back into the Ireland squad for rounds 4 and 5, only a couple of days after his first game for Leinster in 5 months (since the NZ A game).
If Frawley is doing the business in training, I don't think it's out of the question that he goes in the 33-man squad tbh. He is clearly very highly rated by the Irish coaches, they have backed him to a greater or lesser degree at every turn.
Crowley also played a good chunk games at 12 and has played 15 in the past. So I don't see any benefit of picking Frawley over him. And given the choice (and the rest of the squad we have), I'd rather take the 10 who covers centre over the centre who covers 10.
To be clear, I meant "I wouldn't be shocked" in its literal sense.
But, by any measure, it literally would be a shock selection.
As for this:
Hopefully people have regained consciousness now.
c’mon like…
Carbery needs to be brought in. He is a far better 10 and 15 than Frawley. Crap season last year but he still has a lot to his game. Pity Healy was not an option.
It's really hard to know exactly what would happen in the very unlikely scenario that we ship two injuries at outhalf and are forced to go to our 4th choice option to wear the 22 jersey.
On the surface, it would appear highly unlikely that we'd consider Frawley the fourth choice. There was obviously an appetite to look at him at 10 a year ago but a lot has changed since then.
But when you step back and look at the overall picture and evidence on hand, it's probably more likely that we initially think. The main reason being that he's in camp now. Carbery hasn't been in camp since 2022. I would imagine it's less likely for him to come into the 23 having been outside of proceedings for the guts of a year. He would be unfamiliar with tactics, set plays etc.
I would guess that anyone who will feature in the RWC is currently in Carton House barring an exceptionally bad injury run.
Harry Byrne is also in the picture. And, if Sexton was the remaining 10, I think it very unlikely Frawley would even see much time at all at 10. (See the minutes Sexton played during the AI’s)
But I stand my my main rebuttal; I’d be absolutely shocked to see Frawley picked as 3rd choice OH in the squad ahead of Crowley or Byrne.
It would be a surprise, but not a shock. To me, anyway.
The thought of Carbery playing for Ireland makes me feel uncomfortable.
I suppose a positive from Sexton missing the warm-up games now is that both Crowley and Byrne should be able to start at least one of the games and Frawley should be able to get some minutes there too.
If it's any consolation, it appears to make him feel even more uncomfortable.
Pb
