In the wake of Ireland's Six Nations win over France, Jonathan Sexton's Racing Metro coach seemed to link the out-half's tackling style to the concussions he has suffered.
Laurent Labit says that Sexton tends to tackle with the head high which leaves he says leaves the player open to injury.
Tonight on Off The Ball, former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan and Leinster flanker Shane Jennings gave their take on those claims.
"If there's a disadvantage in physique against a player in rugby, you're always better going low and let his own weight chop him down. They might have targeted Bastareaud as well for the choke tackle. The first time Bastareaud carried, there was a choke tackle and a turnover," said Eddie O'Sullivan.
"Jonny stayed high and two Irish players came in there were three green shirts on him. They knew Bastareaud was never going to pass that ball with his head down like a rhinoceros charge and they choked him. What Jonny might have been trying to do was to hold him up for half a second so somebody else can get in on top of them. If you take Bastarreaud low, you knock him, but it's a very quick ruck ball then. He certainly was disadvantaged trying to take him high and there's a risk factor in it. But if he could hold him up at all, it was a chance to choke Bastareaud with the ball."
Jennings also feels progress has been made with the issue of head injuries and concussion in rugby, in terms of the way it is dealt with by team doctors and players, amid worries over Sexton.
"The Irish medical team have come out very well in this because they've been strong on this and they've done the proper procedures," said Jennings, while Eddie felt that there is "no question" that Sexton was 100 per cent.
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