Scotland not guilty
LONDON (AP) — Mauro Bergamasco has been cited for punching Wales captain Stephen Jones, and Scotland’s players have avoided any disciplinary action over Ronan O’Gara’s choke allegation.Bergamasco, who scored Italy’s late try in Saturday’s 23-20 victory over Wales in Rome, appeared to strike Jones earlier in the game as he swung his arm diving into a ruck. The Wales flyhalf needed four stitches in a cut over his eye.
The Italian back row will appear before a disciplinary hearing in London today and could be suspended for Italy’s final Six Nations game against Ireland in Rome on Saturday.
Meanwhile, no Scotland player will be punished over Ireland’s allegation that O’Gara was deliberately choked and lost consciousness near the end of Saturday’s game at Murrayfield.
Although Ireland won the game 16-15, Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan said he feared for O’Gara, who had scored all his team’s points. He said he believed a Scottish player had an arm around the flyhalf’s neck and cut off his air supply.
Independent citing commissioner Brian Fowler studied TV footage of the game but said he found no incidents of foul play.
Ireland issued a statement saying it accepted the decision and considered the matter closed.