Playing France is not good for the health of the Irish team. After losing Paul O'Connell, Iain Henderson, Johnny Sexton and Peter O'Mahony to injury at the World Cup, today's Six Nations encounter at the Stade de France followed a similar pattern.
Yoann Maestri levelled Sexton with a cynical late hit early on in the game and a short while later Guilhem Guirado sent Dave Kearney to the sideline after a shattering hit that looked to be high. Stunningly, referee Jaco Peyper opted not to card either French player while Guirado's hit on Dave Kearney didn't even warrant the awarding of a penalty from the South African.
Those lax decisions benefited France in the end as they hung around before striking with a late Maxime Medard try to sneak a one-point win.
A load of Irish players - past and present - as well as a few journalists were fairly incredulous that Peyper allowed the French to get away with so many dirty hits.
No yellow?! Right in bleedin front of the ref.
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) February 13, 2016
French gameplan, injury as many irish players as possible, force Ireland to make 200+ tackles & grind out win. 6 day turn around is brutal
— Gordon D'Arcy (@Gordonwdarcy) February 13, 2016
Can someone please explain how France haven't had two yellow cards for guirado and maestri?
— luke fitzgerald (@lukefitz11) February 13, 2016
Sickening hit on Dave Kearney from Guirado. Unbelievable that ref didn't have a second look at it. #FRAvIRE pic.twitter.com/aYKj3I9rIW
— Trevor Hogan (@TrevHogan) February 13, 2016
Peyper warns Sexton about “rugby values” a few minutes after he was taken out with the cheapest of cheap shots.
— Cian Tracey (@CianTracey1) February 13, 2016
.@LineUpSME @kearney_dave absolutely, why have replays of not going to use them
— Gordon D'Arcy (@Gordonwdarcy) February 13, 2016
Not a Courtney Lawes "borderline" late hit; Maestri just ran by Sexton and clocked him.
I'm not sure how the ref doesn't check that.
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) February 13, 2016
Maestri follows up with a no-arm clearout on CJ Stander, again the ref says nothing
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) February 13, 2016
