Ireland 18-11 France, Six Nations
Saint-Andre defends Pape over knee on Heaslip
ESPN Staff
February 15, 2015
France's Pascal Pape is issued a yellow card, Ireland v France, Six Nations, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, February 14, 2015
France's Pascal Pape is issued a yellow card © Getty Images
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France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has defended Pascal Pape after he was yellow carded for kneeing Jamie Heaslip in their 18-11 defeat in Dublin.

Pape was sin-binned for kneeing Heaslip in a ruck in the Sisx Nations encounter, with Ireland's No.8 now a serious injury doubt to face England on March 1 with back trouble. Head coach Saint-Andre claimed his experienced lock's challenge was an accident, but conceded the second-half incident cost Les Bleus any chance of victory in the Irish capital.

"When you watch the images of the incident I don't think you can say it was deliberate," said Saint-Andre. "However, I said to Pascal you received a yellow card just at the moment we were gaining the upper hand both physically and territorially as we were in their 22.

"Although we didn't concede many points it was still a pivotal moment. You expect something like that from an inexperienced player, not one with over 50 Tests under his belt. It was the worst possible moment for that to happen."

Despite Saint-Andre's defence, Stade Francais lock Pape could still face a citing for the incident, even though referee Wayne Barnes ruled the challenge merited a yellow card rather than red. Ireland boss Joe Schmidt admitted after Saturday's match that experienced loose-forward Heaslip was "very uncomfortable" following Pape's crude challenge to his back.

"He's very uncomfortable at the moment: he got a knee in the lower back," said Schmidt. "So we'll get him checked out over the next couple of days."

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