Assuming Aki gets three games (like Sexton and Hansen) he’ll be back for round 3 of the 6N. I don’t think his test career is over by a long way.
I’d take that tbh.
Wonder what he said.
It's strange to me that sanctions are universal in rugby. An entity like the IRFU has a conflict of interest in applying sanctions that affect internationals.
Its broken. I doubt it.
Doesn't matter what he said. Any attitude at all is sufficient.
And its not a conflict of interest, its an obligation as old as time to enforce discipline on its own players, irrespective of coming games.
My feeling is he won't appear for Ireland ever again.
It is a conflict of interest. >80% of revenue from rugby in Ireland is from national team. Suspending a player ahead of a key international fixture conflicts with their interest.
i would think a referees strike would be much more in conflict with the IRFUs interest, than disciplining a player for a case of bad discipline.
Not doing anything has consquences.
Should've been there to begin with.
Rte, bbc, indo
You can thank boards.ie for not providing a “delete comment” option, I only refreshed and saw after I sent this.
Rúaidhrí O'Connor
@ruaidhrioc
1h
Now confirmed, Hugo Keenan out of Ireland's Six Nations opener (and probably Italy & England) with a thumb fracture
No replacement is being called up for the full back
Its a URC hearing. Not an IRFU one. Has Aki been in trouble before for the same thing? Even a mid range ban could be the end of the 6n for him and possibly the end of his international career.
yes he has history
in 2017 he was officially investigated for a similar incident involving the same teams.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/39735568
I suspect that unlike a broken finger, a broken thumb is going to be something you just can't really play with until it's pretty much fully healed.
Hard to see how Keenan is back any earlier than the very last game if he is lucky.
im thinking exorcisim at this stage 👹
I wouldn't be too concerned. A French squad already in a state of some chassis will be all overcome in a deeper state of Ennui with the Atonio bombshell. All we have to do is keep our heads a bit.
We're looking like going to Paris with
9. JGP 10. Prendergast
11. TOB 12. StuMac 13. Ringrose 14. Stockdale
15 Frawley
21. Casey 22. Harry 23. Crowley.
?
Having both Byrne and Crowley on the bench is overkill.
Just pick one, probably Crowley, and go 6/2.
As long as we don’t get anymore injuries I wouldnt be massively concerned.
The big issue is LH but that’s been minimised due to France also being light in that position, It’s not going to be a situation where our LH is faces Thomas du Toit for Wilco Lou’s for instance, and infact if it’s Montagne hes just as Green as someone such as Milne. Overall I don’t think it would be the winning or losing of the game.
Keenan being out is big as he’s a brilliant player but his loss wouldn’t cripple us like others would, plus it’s a chance to get more caps into Osborne which will also provide us extra cover at 13 which helps if we are going with a 6/2.
My biggest fear now is knowing we likely haven’t seen the last of our injuries…the question is who’s the next players to go…
Just Casey and Crowley will do.
6/2 is the way to go, it’s the way we went the last 2 games.
You have TOB and Stockers mixed up. Stockdale is 11 and TOB 14
also, if you have frawley on the field you have 10 covered so no need for H Byrne.
agree with the above that we go 6/2 with casey and crowley and hope that none of our wings go down, or JGP will have to go out there.
6/2 with 2 LH props!
Great to see Postletwaithe in for Aki. He should have been there to begin with but good to have him there now anyway. Just a shame it had to be forced on the coach and he couldn’t make that call from the start.
More likely to be 2 TH props!
Snarky Aki.
With Ireland, England, and France all having prop crises and with the news about Antonio today is it time that some effort was made to depower the scrum . It can't be good for these guys to absorb the massive forces they are asked to. Over half a ton of pressure on your calf and achilles is resulting in most props being constantly injured. Furlong has played a handful of games in the last 2 years.
Apparently Aki went to confront the ref either outside, or followed them into their dressing room after the game on Saturday.
Tin foil hats out in force today i see
Embarrassing stuff really.
