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PRO 14IrelandUlster

Schmidt gets lock disciplinary hearing boost


Ireland lock Iain Henderson is free to play (Photo: Getty Images)
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Comment

Iain Henderson has been given the green light to keep competing for an Ireland match-day recall this weekend after his PRO14 citing failed the red card test at a disciplinary hearing.

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The Ulster lock was included on Tuesday morning in Joe Schmidt’s 34-strong squad for next Sunday’s round three Six Nations match away to Italy.

However, his inclusion remained in jeopardy as he was under the threat of suspension until late Tuesday afternoon due to a citing that stemmed from his Ulster comeback last Friday night.

Henderson, who had missed the opening two rounds of the Six Nations due to a finger injury sustained during mid-January Champions Cup duty with Ulster, was declared fit for Ireland after playing the full 80 minutes of his provincial side’s league win over Ospreys at Bridgend.

However, that initial good news was tempered by Monday’s development that he was to face a league disciplinary hearing via video conference after he was cited for an allegedly dangerous ruck clearance in the 14th minute of his return to play.

A ban would have ruled him out of the Test selection shake-up to face Italy. But the disciplinary hearing committee, which sat in Edinburgh and comprised Roddy Dunlop (chair), Ian Douglas and Beth Dickens, reviewed the video clips and reports, heard explanations from the player and his representatives.

Henderson, who had been attempting a legitimate manoeuvre which was destabilised by another player, admitted an act of foul play had occurred as his arm had been around the shoulder and neck of an Ospreys opponent.

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The panel agreed that an act of foul play was proven. However, they considered it only merited a yellow card given the limited ability of Henderson to take avoiding action in a short space of time.

Because the act did not merit an on-field red card, the citing complaint was not upheld and it leaves Henderson in with the chance of playing for Ireland next weekend.

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Comments on RugbyPass

C
Conrad 5 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

That’s true and with some very experienced players in their defensive line.

36 Go to comments
u
unknown 11 minutes ago
Champions Cup draw: Saints pitted with Bath as Saracens grouped with 3 winners

Dull format which needs an overhaul

1 Go to comments
C
Conrad 12 minutes ago
Neil Barnes labels box kick trend 'overboard', France narrative 'rubbish'

Agree. If he and they channel it right then big time.

25 Go to comments
C
Conrad 15 minutes ago
There's only one selection that truly matters for the All Blacks this July

Fair but I would risk it for a biscuit.

Him and Richie! Ahhh



...

116 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 15 minutes ago
Losing to Henry Pollock would be unbearable

They will be, but they must focus on getting the job done. Not Henry pollock. Or anything else for that matter.

15 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 16 minutes ago
Losing to Henry Pollock would be unbearable

Hope you’re right!

15 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 29 minutes ago
Losing to Henry Pollock would be unbearable

Apart from maybe losing RG Snyman in his normal role off the bench, the lock department can’t really be described as threadbare for this test. So I don’t think that’s a real vulnerability.

Manie Libbok has been at 80% in Japan League One this year. And already showed, before he left SA, that his technique had improved with the shorter run up.



...

15 Go to comments
L
Lou Cifer 36 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Exactly! should’ve probably been 2+ penalty tries awarded

36 Go to comments
N
NoLongerARuck 39 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Yeah plus when you kick a pen the ball comes back off the kick off and you then have to exit so it makes sense to go for the corner and look for a try because you keep the possession and territory and keep the pressure up.

36 Go to comments
N
NoLongerARuck 42 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

For sure. The games down South are always Skewed towards the Southern teams because the Northern sides are coming off a long season where they have already played 10 internationals and have been going for 10 months. Even so though the South do win when they similarly go up North in just as trying conditions so the Northern sides must really get better and improve their end of season mentality

36 Go to comments
C
Conrad 43 minutes ago
Where's the power? And what to do with Sua'ali'i? The key questions facing the Wallabies

Yeah. They need it.

I'm Irish but I got a great bounce watching the wallabies in the lions tests. Definite potential.



...

33 Go to comments
N
NoLongerARuck 45 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

I think hes done plenty of articles before about speed of game, ball in play time, pens etc in the Southern context and the North are now seemingly ahead in terms of key metrics that determine the quality of game especially those that World Rugby are after in terms of creating more value for fans

36 Go to comments
C
Conrad 46 minutes ago
Where's the power? And what to do with Sua'ali'i? The key questions facing the Wallabies

Plenty would say that. When he first came to Leinster the guy ended careers. Overnight.

33 Go to comments
N
NoLongerARuck 47 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

England were really awful on defence that game, were shellshocked half way through it

36 Go to comments
C
Conrad 48 minutes ago
Where's the power? And what to do with Sua'ali'i? The key questions facing the Wallabies

Toner was treated terribly. Nobody would call him world class but he had to have been one of the most improved players at test level for a period. He was the only reason the 2016 SA tour was even close. Awful treatment in the end.

Henshaw has spoken about being the 24th man early on and accompanying the sqaud on tours. Schmidt would still expect non-playing sqaud memebrs to be able to talk him through all the set plays when he asked them. If you couldn't, it was never overlooked.



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33 Go to comments
G
GrahamVF 48 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

In all fairness the ref backed off giving penalties and after the pack had marched the Irish pack backwards on the double for ten meters then folded he tol the Bok scrummie “Play it.”

The psychological advantage of being so comprehensively dismantled in the scrums is huge. You can fix missed tackles and sloppy attack - even fix high ball skills - but it’s far more difficult to fix an entire scrum when they are that comprehensively beaten. And that’s what Rassie’s aim was - not necessarily scoreboard dominance but to send the message if you want to play on the same field as us you had better fix your scrum. Like I said - not so easily done.



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36 Go to comments
N
NoLongerARuck 50 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

How do you judge the North South battle and if the North is catching the South? I think theres a couple of categories to consider. In the early 2000’s the South was ahead on almost every category that determines the quality of rugby playing region. I would say the categories are:

Coaching



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36 Go to comments
G
GrahamVF 54 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

“Having opened it up coincided with a massive uplift in the success of the Springboks.” That and the development of black and Coloured players. A huge previously untapped resource to the Springboks.

36 Go to comments
G
GrahamVF 56 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

“The North arguably offers more in terms of entertainment than the South at club level as well. The Prem, the Champs Cup, URC and Top 14 all feature plenty of scoring and different playing styles while Super Rugby seems to be the same thing game in game out. While the South tries to speed up the game artificially with new trials and law variations the North has shown you can do it with good refereeing which penalises cynical play harshly and encourages positive actions on the field.”

Great para and sums it up perfectly. In SA we were sooooo tired of the endless 26 phase going nowhere or backwards cycles of Super Rugby the URC came as a breath of fresh air. We were back to the various elements that make rugby stand out from league. Scrum, ruck, lineout, maul - variety fGs



...

36 Go to comments
N
NoLongerARuck 1 hour ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

The Six Nations produced so many compelling games and so much of action packed moments that you can only conclude that its the best international comp out there at the moment except for a world cup. If Wales improve it will be even better especially given the strides Italy have made in recent times. The Rugby Championship is now taking a hiatus in a year it really should be building toward something better which is terrible considering the competition was so tight last year. The Nations Champs promises much but one gets the feeling that the 6 Nations teams will not be at their peak given its at the end of their long season. In terms of rugby quality and entertainment Id rather watch the 6 Nations over everything else other than a world cup right now. The North arguably offers more in terms of entertainment than the South at club level as well. The Prem, the Champs Cup, URC and Top 14 all feature plenty of scoring and different playing styles while Super Rugby seems to be the same thing game in game out. While the South tries to speed up the game artificially with new trials and law variations the North has shown you can do it with good refereeing which penalises cynical play harshly and encourages positive actions on the field. In terms of entertainment the North wins. In terms of winning? They are making strides but until they win another world cup or get a team to rank number 1 again for an extended time again they cant really say they are better than the South.

36 Go to comments
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