Ronan O’Gara defends red-carded star after he himself was sent off

An unusual situation.

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara could be facing another suspension, after he was sent to the stands by referee Jeremy Rozier during La Rochelle's 53-33 Top 14 loss to Pau yesterday.

It was a crazy game from the get go, with Antoine Hastoy sent off after just 34 seconds when his studs collided with the face of Pau's Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang while he was collecting a high ball.

O'Gara was visibly incensed by the decision, despite the cut face of Grandidier-Nkanang, and was reprimanded by Rozier, who warned him that he would also be dismissed if there was further dissent.

Rozier said: "I hear 'Good Jérémy' when I make my decision. The rule is very clear. The player is bleeding, the foot goes directly to the head, it's a red card. I don't want to hear you. If I hear you another time, I'll send you back to the stands. Is that clear to you?"

And in the 57th minute, ROG once again over stepped the line, losing his temper after the referee failed to penalise Pau for what he felt was a ruck infringement.

He was subsequently given his marching orders, and is looking at another ban to add to his five-week touchline suspension from last May.

After the game, O'Gara did have sympathy for Rozier, but felt that there was enough mitigation to not send off Hastoy.

He said: “Let’s just say that with hindsight, I understand the logic of this ‘kung-fu fighting’ a little better, studs to an opponent’s head. I find it hard to believe that he (Hastoy) intended to hurt the opponent. It changed the game.

“It's difficult to speak for him. But he didn't intentionally kick an opponent in the head; if he had, he'd get a six-month ban. But he wasn't in that frame of mind.

“The referee told me he saw blood and that's what decided everything. Antoine might have been caught a bit off guard, it was a courageous skill, under that first pressure, at home, especially since we had been talking all week about Pau's aerial threat. I’m not an expert, but I think there were mitigating circumstances."