Brian O'Driscoll labels Six Nations star 'very lucky' to avoid red card after leaving opponent 'with a broken nose'

Brian O’Driscoll believes Six Nations star Jamison Gibson-Park was “very lucky” to avoid a red card in Friday night’s all-Irish Champions Cup clash. Leinster scrum-half Gibson-Park, who had such a fine Championship for Ireland, was involved in a highly controversial incident during the last 16 tie against Connacht out in Galway.

With 56 minutes on the clock, his right shoulder connected with the face of opposing No 9 Kieran Marmion as he shaped to make a tackle. Fellow international Marmion was left with a badly bloodied nose and, as the replays were shown, the view of the BT Sport pundits was that Gibson-Park was in big trouble.

Red card for shocking hit in European cup clash

Speaking on commentary, English World Cup winner Ben Kay said: “There’s not a significant drop there and clearly with the blood that’s going to add to the force because that’s what they will be looking at. If you end up with a broken nose, there’s clearly some force in there.”

Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll made his thoughts clear, saying: “It’s very hard to see any other colour than red.” Kay agreed it should be a red, declaring: “Is there danger? Yes. Is there any mitigation? I don’t think there is.”

However, there was to be a different viewpoint taken by English referee Karl Dickson, who provoked much debate last week by not carding Wales skipper Dan Biggar for an upright hit on Semi Radradra in the Northampton-Bristol Premiership game. You can read all about that contentious incident here.

Looking at the footage of Gibson-Park’s actions, Dickson said: “We do have direct contact to the head and we do have foul play because the player is upright. But he is stood stationary and accepts the tackle rather than going forward. So the level of