We can’t say we weren’t warned.
The French made no secret of that fact that they intended to target Johnny Sexton during Saturday’s game at the Stade de France.
It was all over their media, their coach barely mentioned a single other Irish player.
And while Joe Schmidt and Johnny Sexton would have been prepared for some bone crunchers from the French, they may have expected them to at least pretend to abide by the rules.
Instead, after just 13 minutes Sexton was clattered off the ball by Yoann Maestri (watch carefully on the right hand side of the clip below).
Thankfully Ireland’s talisman was able to dust himself off and successfully kick a penalty a few minutes later, but Maestri was extremely luck to escape a yellow card.
And certainly the Irish fans watching back on on TV were pretty pissed off.
https://twitter.com/ElliotKDavis/status/698517711857569794
https://twitter.com/eoghanclogher/status/698520137419378689
"Anything Pape can do I can do better" has to be the jingle going through Maestri's head before this game.
— Jack O'Toole (@jackjotoole) February 13, 2016
Yoann Maestri is up there as one of the worst professional rugby players ever
— Glenn Rowan (@GRowan560) 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
