A decision as to whether there will be any citing arising from an allegation of biting during Munster’s 34-18 win over the Stormers rests with the match commissioner Helen O’Reilly, who has 48 hours after the full-time whistle to assess video evidence and medical reports.
As indicated by the Munster head coach Johann van Graan after the game, Niall Scannell was examined by the head of their medical team, Dr Jamie Kearns, in light of an allegation that the Munster hooker was bitten by an opposition player early in the second half of Saturday night's game.
It is understood that Munster have submitted their medical report and all relevant evidence to O’Reilly, Ireland’s first female referee.
Regarding the on-field allegation, van Graan said: “Niall reported that to Pete (O’Mahony) on the pitch, the referee had a look at it, they couldn’t see any evidence of it, but we’ll go through the right channels.
“He will be (examined). We haven’t spoken to the medical team as such but that will take place later tonight, any player who reports anything to the medical team will be looked at.”
That examination duly took place in Munster’s medical room in Thomond Park.
Just after Jean Kleyn’s try in the 45th minute, Scannell and O’Mahony informed the referee that the Munster hooker claimed that he had been bitten in the build-up to the score.
Brace referred to his TMO, Brian MacNeice, and said: “I just want to have a quick check here because I’ve an accusation of a bite on red 2. It could be number 4 blue (Adre Smith) on that last one there.”
When O’Mahony then approached Brace again, the referee said: “I’m checking that Pete but I can only go on the footage.”
In response, O’Mahony said: “Yeah, 100 per cent, but he (Scannell) has got a full on bite mark.”
“I know. I’m checking that. The try is good and we’re going to have a quick check but we can only go on the footage.”
Replays show the two players in a tangle on the ground, and when Scannell climbs to his feet he turns to the assistant referee on that side of the pitch, says something and points to his left leg.
Both MacNeice and Brace agree that replays showed “nothing conclusive”, on foot of which the referee informs O’Mahony of this, adding: “If there’s anything clear the citing officer will deal with it.”
Munster were fortunate to be merely 15-0 down approaching half-time before hitting the Stormers with five tries through their pack, so making it two bonus point wins from two against South African opposition.
A contented van Graan said: “I’d say I am satisfied with two bonus points, satisfied we showed composure, happy we adapted to what our opponents threw at us, we have things to work on, looking forward to review of game.”
Rotating
Looking ahead to next Sunday’s game away to the Scarlets, who had a 36-13 bonus point win at home to the Lions last Friday after their round one loss in Edinburgh, van Graan said: “We will keep rotating our squad, in some games we will rotate more than others.
“Obviously we have an eight-day turnaround to the Scarlets, we play them on the Sunday before a short turnaround for Connacht. We will look at our resources and plan carefully for those two games. In terms of our squad rotation, I back our squad and I am certainly going to keep rotating them through the weeks.”
New signing Jason Jenkins will remain sidelined, while Conor Murray and Tadhg Beirne are probably another week or two away yet after their Lions exertions.
“Jason is on our injured list. He’s done bits and bobs of training so hopefully he’ll become available and the Lions players will be available as soon as we can pick them and as soon as they are ready to go.
“They are all differnet, Conor is different to Tadhg. Once we are all able to play them and once they are mentally and physically ready we’ll put them on the pitch.”
