You might not like Neil Francis. You might not respect his opinions. It is hard to deny the quality of writing though.
In an absorbing column in today's Irish Independent, Francis suggests that cynicism on the part of Pascal Papé was an instigating factor in Sean O'Brien's indiscretion during Sunday's Pool D decider between Ireland and France.
Gamesmanship is an element which he believes has oozed into rugby - though not yet into the Irish game - and is something which should also be punished.
The punishment which he suggests for Papé's infringement on Sean O'Brien's game is somewhat of the Wild West variety.
I consider myself to be a right-thinking person and in my view what should have happened was that O'Brien should have had a chance to smash Pape in the chops - a proper punch, good enough to send him to the floor without any feigning or pretence and the referee to say 'play on' and then say to Pape, "Don't let me see you try that again".
Maybe Francis is right. Given the dig which Papé received from O'Brien on Sunday, he is unlikely to provoke a round two whenever they cross paths again.
Picture credit: Sportsfile
