Lions blow as Healy faces ban over biting allegation

Ireland prop Cian Healy will face a disciplinary hearing in Brisbane today after being cited for allegedly biting Western Force scrum-half Brett Sheehan during yesterday’s game at Patersons Stadium.

He could land a minimum 12-week ban if the case is proved, which would end his tour.

But the 25-year-old is also battling an injury, and Alex Corbisiero was last night called up from England’s Argentina tour to join the Lions squad as injury cover.

Leinster forward Healy was carried off later in the game with suspected ankle ligament damage. He will undergo a scan in Brisbane tomorrow, but his tour prospects look bleak.

In a statement, the Australian Rugby Union said: “Healy has been cited under Law 10.4.m Acts contrary to good sportsmanship, a player may not bite an opponent.

“The incident occurred in the 17th minute.

“Healy will now appear at a judicial hearing tomorrow, Thursday June 6, at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane.”

Match citing officer, South African Freek Burger, asked Sheehan to provide him with a statement following the game after he made a biting allegation to referee Glen Jackson during the match.

The game was held up while television match official Glenn Newman looked at replays from different angles of any alleged offence, but nothing materialised from that footage. Burger was also investigating an allegation of stamping by Lions scrum-half Conor Murray. He has until the early hours of this morning, UK time, to make any citing.

Corbisiero, meanwhile, was rated as unlucky to miss out on the original Lions squad selection, but he is now expected to link up with the Lions in Brisbane during the next few days.

Lions head coach Warren Gatland said: “Cian has had an X-ray and, while his left ankle is not broken, he will be assessed further when we get to Brisbane.

“In the meantime, we need to get Alex over here as soon as possible, and I am thankful to (England head coach) Stuart Lancaster for letting him go so quickly.”

London Irish forward Corbisiero, who joins Northampton next season, will depart Argentina from Salta, where England are currently preparing to face the Pumas in Saturday’s first Test.

Lancaster said: “We are delighted for Alex.

“It’s very pleasing for him after he missed the Six Nations through injury, and he goes with our full support and blessing.

“All the England players and management couldn’t be more pleased for him to get this opportunity.”

Wales prop Gethin Jenkins is set to make his first start of the tour when the Lions tackle Queensland Reds on Saturday, but it is feasible that Corbisiero could be involved against a combined New South Wales/Queensland Country XV in Newcastle next Tuesday.

The flurry of post-match activity swamped an efficient Lions display that saw them score nine tries against the Force and full-back Leigh Halfpenny deliver a goalkicking masterclass by scoring 24 points from nine conversions and two penalties.

Captain Brian O’Driscoll claimed two touchdowns, and he was followed over the Force line by Jonathan Sexton, Tommy Bowe, Jamie Heaslip, Tom Croft, Mako Vunipola, Owen Farrell and Geoff Parling in a 69-17 win.

In two games so far on tour against the Barbarians and Force, the Lions have scored 128 points and 17 tries.

“We spoke at half-time about making sure we played for the full 80 minutes and to keep going,” Gatland added. “It was pleasing that we came out after half-time, scored pretty quickly and kept the tempo up. Ideally, we would like to be playing against the strongest sides that we possibly can, and if we can’t then we are going to have to replicate some of it in training.

“It’s something we learnt from 2009. We arrived at that first Test against South Africa thinking we were in pretty good nick, and it was a big step up. I don’t think we will get caught this time.

“We’ve just got to be aware of the opposition we are playing, and if we do have victories like tonight that we don’t get too carried away with it.

“We’ve got players who can get across the gain-line. If we can get quick ball and the forwards can get us on the front foot as well, then we have got the potential to be really dangerous. It was about us today. I wasn’t worrying about the opposition. I think we are going to get a tougher game against the Reds on Saturday.”

Western Force: Christie, Haylett-Petty (Rasolea 71), Stubbs, Tuatara-Morrison, C Brown (Haining 61), Norton-Knight, Sheehan (Mathewson 71), Manu (Metcher 77), Hilterbrand (Roach 78), Ma’afu (Kolo 49), Lynn (Matwijow 65), Battye, Cottrell (McCaffrey 52), Hodgson, R Brown.

British & Irish Lions: Halfpenny, Bowe (Maitland 76), O’Driscoll, Tuilagi, North, Sexton (Farrell 66), Murray (B youngs 66), Healy (Vunipolo 37), Best (T Youngs 59), Cole (Stevens 68), Evans (Parling 59), A Jones, Croft (Faletau 71), O’Brien, Heaslip.

Referee: G Jackson (New Zealand).