Ireland v Israel proceeded without major controversy but the contention is that it started at all

The final whistle blew and the Irish and Israeli players picked up their heads to seek their team-mates, melting into one another without shaking hands with any opponent with whom they crossed. This was the final piece of planned protest by the Irish players but the part about which nobody had thought to ask about in advance.

There had been such furious, rancorous contention as to whether the game should start at all, perhaps it was impossible to picture its ending. The Irish players have certainly lived a week which they thought might never have an end. The game proceeded without additional controversy but of course the contention is that it started at all.