CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Ryan gets ‘schooled’ over his Boks red card

- BY DEREK FOLEY

AN EARLY SHOWER.. Ireland's James Ryan gets sent off for a high tackle against South Africa

JAMES RYAN attended a classroom on his own a fortnight back, notionally called ‘Tackle School’, and sat an exam that he knew all the answers to.

But then the Ireland and Leinster pupil had got himself in a jam, caught out like like a guilty schoolboy after a rash no-arms tackle on South Africa's Malcolm Marx in the Aviva which gained him a red card.

Consequences on the day included an Ireland ‘try’ being called back, his sending off, an ultimate match defeat, three weeks suspension with an allowance for a week’s remission if he chose to attend this latest World Rugby brainchild - with the emphasis on child’ - Tackle School

Garry Ringrose copped similar detention recently, it was now Ryan’s turn, a 30 year-old and 29-year-old of whom it is being suggested had completed 10 years in the professional game for successful club and country not knowing the difference between a legal and illegal tackle. Really?