Crime, punishment and rugby

Fillol - dangerous play (Picture http://bit.ly/11JdRLk)

So Paulies kick to the head of Dave Kearney turns out to have been a damp squib with the citing commissioner saying he had no case to answer.  Meanwhile, Jerome Fillol gets 14 weeks for spitting on Peter Stringer. Seems kosher…

It just shows that the whole citing and suspension system is crying out loud for an overhaul. I couldn’t see where spitting was covered in the rules, so I thought a few new categories might need to be added. So here it is, a world exclusive, the new set of rules which will (probably) be adopted by the IRB. You read them here first!

Spitting on a player - 14 week suspension
Wiping a snarly on a players sleeve - 8 weeks, reduced to 6 on appeal
Farting in a players general direction - 6 weeks suspension
Front row forward chewing garlic during a match - 4 weeks
Dangerous head high tackle - 10 weeks
Eye gouging, heavy stamping, goolie grabbing -16 weeks
Kicking a player in the head - 0 weeks (sure, you’re grand)
Dangerous head high tackle, accompanied by eye gouge and goolie grab-
  A kick in the head by a player in red


So things kick off on Friday with Munsters trip to the Dragons. The Dragons are the least competitive of the Welsh sides, and have been picking up hidings all over the place in the last few weeks. They are a whole lot better at Rodney Parade – but I think Munster will still pick up a win, even the lightish side they’ve piocked with an eye on the semi the weekend after.
Glasgow Ospreys is a big one -3rd takes on 4th. The Scots really don’t want to slip up now as the Scarlets are hovering to swoop in and  steal their play off place. On their play over the season, Glasgow really deserve to be in the playoffs, and I think they’ll step up to the plate and take the win they need.
Ulster visit Connacht, again not wanting any mishaps, and to cement their top spot. They are bringing all their big guns, and should put Connacht away.
Leinster are taking a solid squad to Italy to face Zebre on Sunday. They have Sexton back, which is great news, and some of the squad players like Bent get a chance to show their wares. Shouldn’t present any problems to Leinster, they just need to make sure of the bonus point.

RaboDirect PRO12
Friday , April 19
Newport Gwent D'gons vs Munster 19:00
Benetton Treviso vs Edinburgh 19:30
Glasgow vs Ospreys 19:35
Connacht vs Ulster 19:45
Saturday , April 20
Scarlets vs Cardiff Blues 18:30
Sunday , April 21
Zebre vs Leinster 15:00