Former France international Laurent Bénézech says he's "really pissed off" with Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt for picking Johnny Sexton to start against Les Bleus at the Aviva tomorrow.
Journalist and author Bénézech reckons bringing the 29-year-old back into the action immediately after his return-to-play protocols for multiple head injuries are satisfied shows little regard for the number 10's welfare.
Sexton spoke to Ger Gilroy and Brian O'Driscoll on Off The Ball five weeks ago and clearly outlined the precaution he was taking to return to action safely.
"Even though the symptoms weren't that bad," Sexton explained, "I think it was just the number of concussions that I'd built up since the French game at the end of the Six Nations last year when I got a bad hit from [Mathieu] Bastareaud.
"I think it was just a worry. They just wanted to break the cycle more so than how severe my symptoms were. My symptoms weren’t that severe. I did have mild symptoms a couple of weeks after, which wasn’t obviously very encouraging.
"But it was just trying to break that cycle for my own care and health, to make sure it doesn’t become an issue going forward.
"You know, if the doctor let me play and I got another one, then you would have been looking at telling me to take five or six months off and that’s not ideal for anybody.
"So it was a case of putting it to bed now it to bed now and making sure I come back 100 per cent. And I feel like I’m there already, which is the frustrating part of it."
But Bénézech told Newstalk's Lunchtime today: "It’s more than a mistake. I’m really pissed off – sorry for the word – by what (Schmidt) has done because he has no interest in his player’s health.
“Does he know that if Jonathan Sexton got another concussion he should have to retire from rugby? Does he know that?
"Because when you get more than one concussion, you never go back to the initial state.
"So you just increase the risk. And if it happens again, there is an important risk. He will be forbidden from playing rugby.
"More than that what I can’t understand is this year the main point is the World Cup. Supposed to be the World Cup. So what’s the point in putting Sexton on the field that quickly?"
Eddie O'Sullivan flagged the fact that Sexton will be targeted with Ivan Yates on Breakfast this morning, and Bénézech agreed.
"Of course the first action will be Mathieu Bastareaud going straight on Jonathan Sexton," said the former Les Bleus prop. "Of course the Irish back row will try to protect him, but that's so risky.
"Starting him after such a long period out of the pitch and and such an important injury - or series of injuries - (I) cannot believe it."
Bénézech also commented on Bernard Le Roux, Sexton's Racing Metro team-mate, suggesting the Dubliner should wear a helmet, and says the Irish medical team should have overruled the return-to-play protocols.
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