O’Brien can still appeal his one-match ban, but is thought unlikely to do so.

Seemingly the whole of Ireland was waiting impatiently for news of the outcome of Sean O’Brien’s disciplinary hearing earlier this week and we’re starting to get an idea of why it took so bloody long. It took most of the day for citing officials to deem O’Brien’s punch on French lock Pascal Papé worthy of a one-week ban, which was reduced from two weeks because of O’Brien’s previous disciplinary record. If O’Brien’s ban was lenient, it certainly had nothing to do with the testimony of Papé, who didn’t hold back when discussing the impact that O’Brien’s punch had on him for the rest of the game. According to the Irish Times, Papé made a statement which read: “I received a violent punch on the area of the sternum. Due to the instant pain, I collapsed to the ground and couldn’t breathe anymore. “I received care from Dr Grisoli. All along the game I felt a violent pain the area where I had been beaten.” O’Brien, for his part, attempted to defend himself by telling the hearing: “I just wanted to break free and try to get whoever it was off me at the time. “I was fully focused on the next play and what my job was. It was early in the game and I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t making any mistakes at that stage, so I was fully focused on my next job. I was just trying to get rid of the player off my side and get to where I wanted to be in the defensive line.” O’Brien spoke of his remorse and embarrassment at his actions. He was also backed up with written statements by both Joe Schmidt and Brian O’Driscoll to support the view that he is “a young man with an exceptionally good character” and that the punch was a result of an instinctive reaction to being held as opposed to anything pre-meditated on his part.