RUGBY MATTERS - BRENDAN GALLAGHER

As the subject de jour seems to be rugby absurdities let me highlight an instructive moment which popped up in the 16th minute of Gloucester’s splendid glory in defeat epic at La Rochelle last week.
Gloucster’s Russian prop Kiril Gotovstev, defending in heavy traffic, was confronted by the formidable Pierre Bourgarit who in the modern way had stuck his head out and dipped very low as he charged into the metaphorical brick wall in the near certain knowledge that he would draw a penalty or better still a red card should anybody make a serious attempt to tack...