article_snippet: The stampede by rugby’s dinosaurs to defend that monstrous Courtney Lawes tackle against France as perfectly legal has been as alarming as the potentially back-breaking hit France.
article_snippet: The stamp by Steven Gerrard against Manchester United was no more than a petulant irritant which threatened no real damage but Courtney Lawes was rightly sent off and roundly castigated by football at large.
article_snippet: There has been no apology from Courtney Lawes for a violent act 24 hours earlier which cast a pall over an otherwise heroic England victory, which came close to snatching an improbable Six Nations Championship.
article_snippet: That offers a disturbing insight into Courtney Lawes view of sport and the spirit in which it should be played.
article_snippet: The officials and the executives who are responsible for rugby were of a consensus that Courtney Lawes was already committed to the tackle so therefore he was not late enough to justify a red card.
article_snippet: Courtney Lawes is not telling us but if Courtney Lawes had happened in a street outside the stadium police may well have been called to investigate if there were grounds for an assault charge.
article_snippet: The rugby authorities – with the exception of the French who are asking for the on-the-spot not guilty verdict to be reviewed – are saying he did nothing wrong.
article_snippet: Football has a lot to learn from rugby about acceptance of decisions and respect for referees.
article_snippet: England and France captains Chris Robshaw and Thierry Dusautoir listen to referee Nigel Owens .
article_snippet: As the decision to let Lawes remain on the pitch came down Lawes gave me the smug impression of someone who had got away with another one.
article_snippet: But they could come to regret not taking that decision if Lawes does something similar in the World Cup later this year, the officials are less forgiving and the officials find the officials down to 14 men against the All Blacks.
highlights_snippet: Lawes blind-sided the French fly half when the ball was gone .
  
highlights_snippet: If the Lawes’ tackle was within the regulations had happened in a street outside the stadium police may well have been called to investigate if there were grounds for an assault charge .
  
highlights_snippet: There has been no apology from Lawes for a violent act which cast a pall over an otherwise heroic England victory .