LIFEIMI Mafi’s high and late tackle on Gordon D’Arcy last Saturday night means Munster are now heavily reliant on Keith Earls’ untested ankle against London Irish, reports Gavin Cummiskey.
The Tongan centre’s aggressive swinging arm in the 19th minute of the 13-9 defeat to Leinster has been punished with a seven-week suspension.
A three-man IRFU disciplinary committee chaired by Hugh Logan, assisted by Stephen Hilditch and Ian McIlrath, found Mafi guilty of a dangerous tackle under IRB law 10.4 (e) in Belfast yesterday.
It means Mafi is unavailable for the opening rounds of the Heineken Cup, starting this Saturday at the Madejski Stadium followed by Toulon’s visit to Limerick. However, the international break in November means he will only miss two further games, against Ulster on October 29th and the Scarlets on November 21st.
Meanwhile, Springbok fullback François Steyn is the latest Racing Metro 92 player to be considered doubtful for Saturday’s highly-anticipated visit to the RDS.
Currently leading the French Top 14, Racing have a mini-crisis at outhalf where Argentine sensation Juan-Martin Hernandez and regular place-kicker Jonathan Wisniewski are injured. French winger Benjamin Fall is another concern.
Stephen Ferris (shoulder girdle) is the notable absentee from the Ulster squad to face Aironi at Ravenhill on Friday but South African tighthead prop BJ Botha returns.
