MUNSTER CAPTAIN PAUL O’Connell will attend a disciplinary hearing at the ERC headquarters in Dublin on Thursday.

The Lions skipper will answer charges as a result of the red card he received against the Ospreys on Sunday.

O’Connell was sent off for striking Ospreys No 8  Jonathan Thomas with a flailing arm during the sides’ Heineken Cup clash at Thomond Park.

The Limerick man – who is just recovered from a lengthy injury lay-off – could face anything from a fortnight to 52 weeks on the sideline, according to IRB rules.

The Irish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley reckons that O’Connell will argue he was provoked. He writes:

O’Connell and his legal adviser will assuredly argue extenuating circumstances, such as provocation for having his shirt tugged from behind by Thomas well away from the ball when the incident occurred, in the 69th minute, and that he swung his forearm without looking.

He will assuredly deny any deliberate attempt to strike with his elbow, as was intimated by the referee and has been suggested by some commentators.

Given the lock’s previously clean record – having never been sent off – it is conceivable that the ban will not stretch into Ireland’s Six Nations campaign. Declan Kidney’s men kick off that title bid which begins in eight weeks’ time against Italy.

Both the ERC and O’Connell will have 72 hours to lodge an appeal against the panel’s decision.

Here’s that ‘elbow’ again: