Six Nations:Jerry Flannery will face a disciplinary hearing later this week after being cited for an alleged kick on France's Alexis Palisson on Saturday. Flannery escaped with conceding a penalty at the time but can expect to be ruled out of the forthcoming clash with England if found guilty.
Palisson was forced off with a dead leg after the incident and was fortunate not to have suffered a more serious injury. The French wing’s absence was not keenly felt by the home side, who went on to record a resounding 33-10 win at the Stade de France.
No date has been set for Flannery’s hearing as of yet with the Ireland hooker likely to go before a Six Nations committee on Wednesday.
“Jerry Flannery, the Ireland number two, is due to appear before a Six Nations independent disciplinary committee as a result of a citing arising from the Six Nations match between France and Ireland at the Stade de France,” it was confirmed this afternoon.
“The citing lodged by the Independent Citing Commissioner for the match, Peter Brown (Scotland), is for an alleged kick on France's wing Alexis Palisson in contravention of Law 10.4 (c).”
The minimum sanction for the offence in contravention of Law 10.4 (c) is four weeks, a mid-range offence is eight weeks with the top end 12 weeks, which can be extended to a possible year.
Should Flannery be suspended, Rory Best of Ulster will take the number two jersey after recovering from neck surgery in time for the Six Nations.
Ireland also have a number of injury concerns in the wake of Saturday’s bruising encounter in Paris, with Rob Kearney seemingly the most unlikely to recover in time for the Saturday week’s match at Twickenham.
Kearney injured his right knee during the first half and a scan this morning revealed a strain to his medial ligament. He will undergo rehabilitation but is considered “doubtful for the game against England” by the Irish medical team.
Brian O’Driscoll took a blow to his left knee and suffered some bone bruising to the joint. The captain’s injury will be monitored but the management are “optimistic he will be available for the England game”.
Leo Cullen twisted his right ankle but there is no serious damage and he is expected to be fit for selection, while John Hayes took a blow to the head but the injury is not serious and he should be available for the England game.
The Ireland starting fifteen from the France game will come together this week for a short camp in Cork, while the replacements will return to their provinces for selection in the next round of Magners League games this weekend.