Mike Brown got off from hit boot connecting with Conor Murray's head area. But we've seen this before.
Almost four years ago, an worse incident happened. It was just as accidental, and the exact same result happened. The only difference between this incident and Mike Brown's is that the country of Ireland is united this time.
The awareness of concussion wasn't to the same levels four years ago when O'Connell's foot struck Dave Kearney's head; but that should have been the only time it happened. It was a chance for World Rugby to change the laws so that Conor Murray would never needed eight stitches.
There was a similar outcry four years ago, and Paul O'Connell - who also didn't mean to strike the man - got away with no ban.
According to the laws, neither player should have been cited. There was no intent, and in both cases they are clearly trying to kick the ball.
But as Vincent Hogan points out in an excellent article in the Irish Independent, that isn't good enough.
if you are the parent of a young rugby player - with all the attendant worries about physical overload, spinal injury and concussion - how do you reconcile the general acceptance that nothing greatly untoward happened at Twickenham on Saturday with any confidence that this game is both civilised and safe?
It's not Mike Brown's fault for what happened at the weekend. He was perfectly playing within the laws, but that's the problem.
In an era where player safety is meant to be the most important - the laws need to change to stop these sort of incidents from happening. Both incidents - O'Connell's and Brown's were reckless and avoidable. In both cases players were hurt - Murray needed eight stitches, and Kearney's season was cut short because of concussion.
The laws need to be changed to reduce the amount of avoidable injuries. There's a difference between getting concussed in a tackle, and being concussed from being kicked while you're lying prone on the ground.
Or else we the injuries that happen could be much much worse.
Make sure you read the full Vincent Hogan article. It's excellent.
See Also: Accidental Or Not, A Kick To The Head Should Never Be Allowed
See Also: Toulon Player Cited For This Painful Head Kick On Ulster's Stuart Olding
Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
