Ireland address Josh van der Flier stamping incident as damning footage emerges

Nigel Owens was asked to chime in on the incident.

Josh van der Flier was pure Duracell bunny at Stade de France, on Saturday night, as he kept going, going, going, going and going. The Leinster flanker came up with another barnstorming performance as he and his Ireland teammates dug deep to defeat the Springboks. In the final 10 minutes, with an almost entirely fresh South African pack on the pitch, it was van der Flier pegging it around and making big tackles on Damien Willemse and Jesse Kriel. Following the 13-8 Ireland win, footage emerged of a stamping incident, on van der Flier, that caused plenty of concern. It was raised in a Sunday briefing with Ireland coach John Fogarty.

Stamp on Josh van der Flier

During the second half of that Ireland win over South Africa, Josh van der Flier was over a ruck, with his arms spread out, when the incident occurred. Springbok prop Ox Nche trod on van der Flier's hand as he stepped back from the ruck. We will let the footage (below) speak for itself: https://twitter.com/DerfDvx/status/1705690272795971999 While even the liked of internationally famous rugby referee Nigel Owens was asked to comment upon the incident, it was a matter Ireland were leaving up to World Rugby. At a Sunday press briefing, Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty was asked about it and replied:

“I wasn’t aware of a stamping to be honest. I am sure World Rugby and the disciplinary board will be looking across everything and assessing those bits. But at this moment in time, I haven’t heard anything at our end.”

Ireland are giving their players a couple of down days, to rest up sore bodies, before reassembling for the final pool game [on October 7] against Scotland. A win over the Scots would seal top spot in the pool and secure a quarter final against the second placed side in Pool A, back in Paris, on October 15. On injury concerns, Jimmy O'Brien and Jack Conan, Fogarty said: “Both boys had a brilliant week. They took part in training this week and they will take part in full training when we come back. We have been very lucky with the health of the squad. Right now, we are looking at training with a full deck.”

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