Ireland vs Japan: Hearing a red card is ‘not good’ for Tadhg Byrne, says head coach Andy Farrell

Ireland coach Andy Farrell said Tadhg Byrne’s disciplinary hearing was a “distraction” for the player this week.

Byrne was sent off in the third minute of his side’s 26-13 defeat to New Zealand last weekend, but is available to start against Japan in Dublin on Saturday (12:40 GMT) after the card was cancelled.

The Munster striker was initially shown a yellow card for a challenge on Chicago’s All Black fly-half Beauden Barrett but the decision was upgraded to a 20-minute red card during the match following a basement review.

On Tuesday, an independent disciplinary panel found that “although a malicious act had occurred, it did not meet the threshold for a red card” leaving Byrne free to take his place alongside James Ryan in Ireland’s second row against the Brave Blossoms in the second of four Tests this month.

“It’s a distraction for Tadhg,” Farrell said.

“Obviously you can’t pick a side or know specifically what’s going to happen, even if you’re placing your mortgage on a bid assumption [the decision would be overturned].

“There’s distraction in the process, the amount of emails flying around and then the hearing itself. I sat down with Tadhg, it’s not nice.”

Farrell added that Byrne, who was the player in the British and Irish Lions’ series win over Australia over the summer, was pleased to still be on track to win his 63rd cap for Ireland on Saturday, even after an accident in training left him needing stitches.

“He was more than happy to be available, not that you would be able to see that by Tadhg’s behaviour,” he said.

“He trained [on Wednesday] Jack Konnan landed an elbow on his head and broke up.

“He had six stitches, so it hasn’t been a great start to the week for him, but hopefully things will improve.”