Ala-alatoa to sit out warm-ups

LEINSTER’S Michael Ala’alatoa will miss the first couple of Samoa’s World Cup warm-ups after he was suspended for three weeks for his costly red card offence in Saturday’s Champions Cup final

- MICHAEL SCULLY

However the prop will be free to play against Ireland in Andy Farrell’s final warm-up against Samoa in Bayonne on August 26.

Ala’alatoa was sent off by referee Jaco Peyper in the 78th minute at the Aviva for charging into a ruck in a dangerous manner and for making contact with the head area of La Rochelle’s replacement prop, Georges Henri Colombe, in contravention of Law 9.20(a).