Madam, - The dramatic injury caused to British and Irish Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll in Saturday's test match in Christchurch raises a number of questions, not only about the incident itself but about some aspects of the game of rugby in general.
As to the incident itself, there is at least ground for suspicion that O'Driscoll, as a key player and captain of the Lions, was deliberately targeted by some members of the New Zealand team, presumably on the basis that he be removed from the match or at least roughed up and rendered less effective. This is a matter of such seriousness that it should be investigated not only by rugby's own disciplinary body but also by the police in New Zealand. At the very minimum the video-tapes of the incident should be examined fully and the parties questioned to establish if there are grounds to suspect a deliberate attack on O'Driscoll. The video replay of the incident as shown on television gives at least cause to be concerned that something untoward may have taken place.
As to rugby in general, it is not unusual for some players intent on victory to cause hurt to a key player in the opposition team in the course of the early engagements in a match, for example in the scrum.
It is designed both to damage morale and weaken the victim physically. Why should such an invasion be treated any differently than elsewhere in society because it occurs within contact sport? Some that are legally minded might suggest that such events are part and parcel of the sport and are assumed voluntarily by the players.
Whatever about the risk of accidents, who in their right mind would voluntarily assume the risk of deliberate battery?
Rugby has given much pleasure to many people over many years but it also has a number of features of play which cause serious physical risks even when played according to standards of decency. That players should be further exposed to deliberate injury is simply not on! If that is what occurred in the test on Saturday it is all the more unfortunate that the person on the receiving end was Brian O'Driscoll because he has not only brought great skill to the game and honour to Ireland but as a player also shows qualities of great character. Let's hope he makes a rapid recovery. - Yours, etc,
NEIL MCCANN, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Madam, - Like most Irish people I was disgusted at the deliberate "taking out" of Brian O'Driscoll by the All Blacks captain and his team-mate. I would suggest that :
a) the offending players should be banned for life;
b) the local police should take a prosecution for assault and grievous bodily harm;
c)Brian should prosecute them for punitive damages;
d) if the offending players are not dropped by the All Blacks the Lions should refuse to play them in the two scheduled tests.
Am I overreacting? - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O'DEA jnr, Sandyford Hall, Dublin 18.
Madam, - While we are busy tut-tutting about the dangerous tackle on Brian O'Driscoll last Saturday, which could easily have caused a neck injury, we should not forget Paul O'Connell's dangerous tackle on Chris Jack, his opposite man.
He took the legs from under Jack in the lineout, an extremely dangerous move which can easily lead to a spinal injury. I didn't see much mention of it in the Irish media, or indeed complaints from Chris Jack. - Yours, etc,
FERGAL RYAN, Brighton Avenue, Dublin 6.