Cheika and Knox to be disciplined internally

Leinster coaches Michael Cheika and David Knox will face internal disciplinary action today arising from complaints made by Simon McDowell, who refereed the recent Magners Celtic League game between Leinster and Munster, and a Welsh fourth official at the Llanelli-Leinster game last month.

Perhaps more seriously, Leinster hooker Brian Blaney will also face an IRFU disciplinary hearing after complaints from McDowell that Blaney pulled his shirt and queried a decision in a physically threatening manner.

Much to Leinster's annoyance, details of McDowell's match report were leaked to one Sunday newspaper, in which it was claimed that Cheika approached McDowell at the entrance to the dressingrooms in the Lansdowne Road West Stand at the end of the first half and "used abusive language."

Both Cheika and Knox had run-ins with the same two officials last season, the former with McDowell when he was touchjudge at the corresponding fixture on New Year's Day at the RDS, and this resulted in Cheika making a donation to the IRFU charitable trust and also apologising to the fourth official at the RDS.

The Leinster Professional Team Management Committee met yesterday to discuss the latest developments and are expected to complete their inquiry and make a statement today.

A sanction of sorts, most likely a fine, is inevitable.

The recent incidents happened shortly after a dubious pushover try by David Wallace - when Peter Stringer had clearly obstructed Guy Easterby - had been converted by Ronan O'Gara, and video footage shows Blaney approaching McDowell from behind and engaging him close-up in conversation before Cheika came on to the pitch waving his arms and appearing to remonstrate with the Ulster official.

Blaney is set to face a three-man IRFU disciplinary panel, which is now likely to be expedited after McDowell's report was leaked - a development which has Leinster seething, not least because they feel it is bound to prejudice any hearing.

Meanwhile, Easterby has been ruled out for six weeks or so with a broken jaw, the third of his career, but although the shoulder injury which has sidelined Chris Whitaker for the past two matches is healing slower than expected, Leinster are unlikely to use their "wild card" option of bringing in an overseas player to supplement their list of scrumhalves.

"We'll have to give Chris another 48 hours before we can assess his injury again and it could be that Cillian Willis will play next week," said Cheika in reference to next week's Heineken European Cup opener against Gloucester in Lansdowne Road.

"But I thought Cillian did very well on Friday night (in the surprise 22-19 defeat at the Borders).

"We've got to think long-term, he's a good player and we're very committed to bringing these younger guys through."