Saturday 23 April 2016 10:17, UK
Conor O'Shea has insisted Joe Marler did not kick Grenoble hooker Arnaud Heguy in the head and does not deserve another ban.
Marler could be back in hot water with rugby's authorities after appearing to kick out at Heguy during Harlequins' 30-6 victory over Grenoble in Friday's European Challenge Cup semi-final.
The England prop was playing his first game following a two-week ban for his "Gypsy boy" slur against Wales' Samson Lee, but courted fresh controversy, clashing with Heguy in the 26th minute.
But Quins boss O'Shea claimed Marler made contact with Heguy's head with his shin, and insisted the 25-year-old's actions should not warrant a ban.
"It was not a boot, it was nowhere near a boot - it was a shin," said O'Shea, with Marler in danger of a ban that could jeopardise his place on England's June tour to Australia.
"Any test for a citing has to pass the red-card test. Should he do it? No. Is it a red card? No.
"It's disappointing to have to talk about it because I thought his scrummaging was excellent.
"But he is under the microscope. Things happen, we never condone it but if that is a red card there's a heck of a lot of things that happen on the pitch that are worse.
"So I'd focus on the positives, I'll have a word with him, but there are things happen on the ground. He got up, he did something, but it wasn't a red card."
Citing commissioner Iain Goodall now has 48 hours to determine whether Marler should face a disciplinary hearing for the incident.
"Joe will be fine, he'll be disappointed that attention was drawn to him again," said O'Shea. "But when you're a marked man you're a marked man. People probably look more for things when Joe Marler's involved than with others, but that's life.
"He needs to control his emotion, it is an aggressive game and you need to control your discipline."
