'What is really distasteful is the manner in which France have sought to hurt Sexton.'
It's the fact that it came through neutral eyes that made it particularly noteworthy. With all the increased interest on player welfare, the usual French treatment of Johnny Sexton was likely to be magnified and so it has proved.
It just so happened that rather than Irish outrage it was instead The Telegraph's Daniel Schofield that has delivered the summary that has seemingly pissed the French off more than anything. Schofield took the knife to the French gameplan and it's not going down well with at least one French rugby writer.
If it was an Irish journalist calling the French treatment of Sexton 'a disgrace' you could see why the French would be looking to add their side of the story. However, when it's a completely neutral voice offering that opinion then perhaps it's best to just take a look at your own side an accept that a line was crossed.
Writing for Eurosport's rugby blog 'RugbyRama', Fabien Pomiès has looked at Daniel Schofield's much shared opinion yesterday and taken it all the way down the road to use it as an example of English rugby's distaste for the French.
Once again, the British press was true to its reputation. When it comes to make up the Anglo-French rivalry, it never ends. Not often kind to the France side, they've decided this time to point fingers at the French for their "treatment" of the Irish out-half on Saturday.
Calling the 'English the kings of French bashing', Pomiès goes on to suggest that the English press are simply using the occasion to get one over on them in advance of 'Le Crunch' between the two sides on March 19th.
After going through Schofield argument, Pomiès concludes by thanking him for 'the lesson' (that being the lesson in the laws of rugby) and reminding the English that their captain Dylan Hartley is not saint.
So let's just lay that out there. The French illegally target Ireland's playmaker, an English writer calls them out on it and this French chap is getting the hump because the English are picking on them and trying to get under their skin ahead of the clash between the two sides. That's some damn impressive leaping away from the issue at hand.
