Ireland rugby fans will be thrilled with how the game against Scotland played out, but they won't be happy with what happened to Dan Sheehan early in the second half.
While Ireland would score a try after just a minute of their Rugby World Cup fixture against Scotland, it was actually the Scots that had the better of things during the opening exchanges. They spent much of the opening ten minutes camped inside the Irish 22-metre line, although they would fail to come away with any points.
You always got the sense that they could regret not getting any points on the board during that period, although few would have predicted just how badly the remainder of the half would play out for them.
Ireland were absolutely imperious over the half hour that followed, running in three more tries to all but kill off the game as a contest before we even reached halftime.
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𝐇𝐔𝐆𝐎 𝐁𝐎𝐒𝐒!!! 🟢
Keenan gets his second of the night!#IREvSCO | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/25WWh9PxBs— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 7, 2023
Scotland prop criticised for move on Ireland star Dan Sheehan
It seemed unlikely that Scotland would produce any sort of fightback in the second half, with it quickly becoming apparent that they were more interested in starting an actual fight.
Within a couple of minutes of the game resuming, a scuffle between both sides would start after Ollie Smith needlessly attempted to trip Johnny Sexton during the course of play. It was not well received by the Irish players, who squared up to the opposition.
Some handbags ensued, although one Scotland player seemed to take it too far. Prop Pierre Schoeman grabbed Dan Sheehan and dragged him over the advertising hoardings, a very dangerous act that could have resulted in serious injury.
Incredibly, he was not punished by the officials, with Smith being the only player sent to the sin bin for inciting the whole incident.
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"I have a serious issue with what he did there!"
Ollie Smith has been shown a yellow card for tripping Johnny Sexton. But Alan Quinlan thinks Pierre Schoeman should have been punished for shoving Dan Sheehan over the hoardings in the melee afterwards.#IREvSCO | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/BHk1hLXjkR— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 7, 2023
BAH GAWD pic.twitter.com/wlTlFJmw6O
— Jamie Wall (@JamieWall2) October 7, 2023
That's poor.
Quite a few people were quick to point out that Schoeman acted badly on this occasion, with Virgin Media commentator Alan Quinlan dumbfounded that he was not punished further.
Can't get over the TMO saying that there is nothing else to look at after Pierre Schoeman pushing Dan sheehan over 😲 #IREvSCO
— Daniel (@Leinster_Daniel) October 7, 2023
how did blue no.1 pierre schoeman not get some sort of sanction for that??? #RWC2023 #IRE #IREvSCO
— dr hannah lunch 🍌🦀 (@hannahmillana) October 7, 2023
Sorry, Schoeman should also be in the bin. He knows what he is doing, pushes him over the boards. Excessive force, yellow #IREvSCO
— MorkyMork (@morky_mork1) October 7, 2023
Dan Sheehan is lucky that he was not hurt during this incident.
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