RUGBY:ONE OF Ulster's expensive, overseas recruits, John Afoa, could potentially miss the Heineken Cup semi-final against Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium on April 28th.
The former All Black tighthead prop was highlighted yesterday by citing commissioner Peter Larter (England) for a dangerous tackle on Munster fullback Felix Jones during Sunday’s 22-16 victory in Thomond Park.
Match referee Nigel Owens did not penalise Afoa for the alleged tip tackle but Larter, having reviewed replays of the incident, felt it warranted a disciplinary hearing under Law 10.4 (j): “Lifting a player from the ground and either dropping or driving that player’s head and/or upper body into the ground whilst the player’s feet are off the ground.”
The ERC hearing will take place in Dublin tomorrow with Jean-Nöel Couraud (France) appointed as the independent judicial officer.
The 28-year-old, with 36 caps for New Zealand and a World Cup winner’s medal, has no blots on his disciplinary record but even the low-end three-week suspension would see him miss the semi-final, albeit by just one day.
If Couraud deems it a mid-range offence, Afoa would have to serve six weeks with the top-end ban for a dangerous tackle starting at 10 weeks and climbing up to a full year.
Wales captain Sam Warburton received a three-week suspension after his red card for the tip tackle on Vincent Clerc in last year’s World Cup semi-final.
If Afoa was found guilty within the mid-range bracket he would also miss the RaboDirect Pro 12 semi-final, should Ulster finish in the top four, and the Heineken Cup final at Twickenham on May 19th, again, presuming they defeat Edinburgh without their world-class scrummager.
Ulster’s cover at prop is the most obvious weakness within their squad. Adam Macklin has made 18 appearances for Ulster this season but the 21-year-old, who was number eight in school for Methody College, has only played one full half of rugby. The other option, Declan Fitzpatrick, has not featured for the senior team since November.
Meanwhile, Stephen Ferris is expected to be rested for Saturday’s Pro 12 tie against Connacht at Ravenhill. The Ireland flanker was classed as a major doubt last week having seriously damaged ankle ligaments in the game against Aironi on March 30th. However, he recovered to play the full 80 minutes in Limerick, even winning the man-of-the-match award.
Besides Ferris and possibly Afoa, coach Brian McLaughlin is expected to name a strong starting XV as Ulster are presented with a clear opportunity to move into a play-off spot. They are one point behind Munster and Glasgow, who face each other at Musgrave Park.
Munster are without number eight James Coughlan, who fractured a bone in his left hand last Sunday. Coughlan meets a specialist this week with David Wallace poised to continue his return from a serious knee injury.
Keith Earls is also doubtful with a leg injury as Munster’s only chance of silverware is to retain their Pro 12 title.
ULSTER GEARING UP: 35,000 fans expected at the Aviva Stadium
ULSTER OFFICIALS are predicting they will have 35,000 supporters packed into the Aviva Stadium for their Heineken Cup semi-final against Edinburgh later this month,
reports Orla Bannon.
In just over two hours of tickets going on general sale yesterday, 12,000 were snapped up by Ulster fans. The province has also ring-fenced 20,000 tickets for their season ticket holders (they have 3,500 season ticket holders who will be allowed to purchase multiple ticket options).
In comparison, Edinburgh have asked for just 3,000 tickets to be sectioned off for their most loyal fans for the game on April 28th.
“It’s fantastic in terms of the fans who have been very loyal to us,” said Ulster’s commercial manager Fiona Hampton. “We are hoping that the Aviva will be filled predominantly with white shirts. There has been an absolutely huge uptake on the general sale tickets which went on sale at noon (yesterday).
“We are sure it’s been all Ulster fans who have been on booking their seats and if I was a betting person I would say we will have around 35,000 in the stadium.”
Hampton claimed Ulster have no idea yet what monies they will receive from ERC in terms of monies generated through ticket sales and TV rights. However she said that the spin-offs, which Munster and Leinster have enjoyed for many years through continued success in Europe’s premier club rugby tournament, will be huge.
“Being in the Heineken Cup is very lucrative for clubs because it’s essential to grow the commercial side of the business,” she said. “It boosts the sale of jerseys and it grows the general support. That’s how Leinster can fill an 18,000 stadium every week. That’s why Munster have one of the biggest sales of jerseys anywhere in the world.
“It is great that our season ticket holders now see the benefit of being a season ticket holder. They got priority booking for the quarter-final when tickets were really scarce. We took up our full allocation of 6,400 at Thomond Park and the further you go in the competition the rewards increase for everybody.”
