This time no one can blame Dave Pearson

SO much physical and mental energy goes into preparing for an international test match that to have it called off as you are literally about to leave the dressing room must be emotionally draining.

I only recall being in that situation once in my career and the circumstances bear no comparison whatsoever to the frustration felt by the Irish players at the Stade de France. It happened in the late 1970’s when I was about to take the field for UCC in a Munster Senior Cup game against Young Munster at Musgrave Park. At least in those good old amateur days we were able to take out our frustrations in the Dolphin clubhouse bar.

It has been a difficult week for English referee Dave Pearson with his recommendation of a yellow card for Bradley Davies for an appalling tip tackle on Donnacha Ryan manifestly wrong. Yet for Pearson to be blamed and ridiculed for his decision to postpone Saturday’s game at the eleventh hour is completely misplaced. It should never have come to that. We are now in a professional era with full time administrators running the game yet at times I think we were better served in the days of the amateur committees.