The European Rugby Cup's (ERC) disciplinary hearing on allegations of foul play against the Stade Francais captain and loose-head prop, Serge Simon, which was to have been heard in Dublin tomorrow, has been deferred until next week at the behest of the French club.
Stade Francais wanted time to assemble their defence, and the club's chairman, Max Guazzini, who is also a lawyer, has asked ERC Ltd for a copy of any video or documented evidence which Leinster submit in support of their citation against the player. An ERC spokesman confirmed that Leinster have not submitted any video evidence to substantiate their complaint, although he added that "it is expected". Leinster sources have indicated that video evidence will be submitted.
Simon himself has reacted indignantly to the accusations of eye-gouging levelled against him. Describing Leinster's formal complaint as "very surprising", Simon said: "It bothers me and at the same time it makes me laugh. It's part of the insane climate in the game now."
Simon claimed the Leinster players did not come to the reception after the game and that Leinster's citing of him for foul play was "the word of an Irish prop against my word, but, from experience, that kind of thing I have to take seriously".
Simon said he feared "a parody of justice" and that he will be judged on his "cv", a reference to his membership in 1991 of the notorious Begles front-row.
The Leinster manager, Jim Glennon, rejected Simon's claim that Leinster players missed the post-match reception, but declined to go much further. "The matter is now with ERC and I don't think it serves anybody's interest to have a trial by media."
Meanwhile, Leinster are expected to announce a squad today for next Saturday's game against Connacht in the Sportsground in the penultimate round of matches in the Interprovincial Championship, but they probably will not finalise their starting line-up until the day of the match.
Two casualties from Friday's tempestuous affair, Trevor Brennan (ankle) and Martin Ridge (calf), are the prime worries for the holders and leaders. Given the remarkable recovery rate of Leinster players so far this season, both are likely to recover in time. Eric Elwood's return to the fray for Connacht has definitely been put beyond Saturday's game. The Connacht coach, Glenn Ross, says that although the Connacht captain and Irish out-half has been training hard for the last couple of weeks, "he's still not right yet and has a long season ahead of him".
The recently recalled prop, John Maher, has contracted "a similar infection to the one Barry Gavin had", according to Ross, which has led the Connacht camp to surmise that "there must be something in the soil". Otherwise, Connacht have a clean bill of health and are expected to announce a near full-strength side at some point today.
Munster and Ulster meet in a crunch match for both. Not only will the losers be ruled out of the title race, they will also be in the bottom half going into the final round of matches and therefore in serious danger of missing the expected cut-off point for the first division of an oft-mooted British and Irish league, and probably the European Cup. Munster may select today, according to manager Jerry Holland, for what he acknowledges is "a massive game". Killian Keane and Ronan O'Gara, the two players sidelined by injuries from last Saturday's win over Neath, have resumed light training and could come back into consideration, while Shane Leahy is back in the frame after missing the Neath game for domestic reasons.
Rhys Ellison has still to resume running and is not expected back for another three to four weeks, either in time for the return European fixture with Neath, or the final round of interprovincial matches against Leinster.
Ulster's Jan Cunningham suffered a head injury in the defeat by Toulouse and is their main concern, although both Allen Clarke and Andy Ward, ruled out of the Toulouse encounter, are expected to recover for this game. They will probably announce their side tomorrow.
