Protection.

You’re probably sick of hearing Irish pundits calling for Johnny Sexton to be protected more by referees, but it’s a conversation that keeps coming up and it needs to be had.

Not just Johnny Sexton, but tens in general. In the last few years rugby has become hugely focused on player welfare, with new protocols and measures being introduced regularly.

And with that is it time we starting protecting the game’s prized assets a bit more? Ronan O’Gara, Matt Williams and Shane Jennings sat down for a lengthy discussion on the topic yesterday in a must watch chat on Virgin Media One.

Have a watch below. Some very interesting comments. Particularly the conversation around whether or not the defender is “engaged” on the ball carrier so to speak.