Martin Johnson's latest brush with on-field violence should prompt strong action, not weasel words from the England captain, writes John O'Sullivan

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Well not really, more plea bargain than tortured soul-baring. There was a touch of pantomime to Martin Johnson's shallow act of contrition, contrived to allow him to concentrate on today's Six Nations Championship game against Ireland at Twickenham.

The villain of the incident that left Saracens and Scotland hooker Robbie Russell requiring six stitches in a wound under an eye in a club match last Saturday, tried to look and sound contrite at a midweek press conference at England's training headquarters in Bagshot. He managed to carry off the sackcloth and ashes routine to the satisfaction of most rugby commentators. The flak came from outside the coterie.

Magnanimously, the England captain conceded that he had acted improperly, confessed that he regretted the incident, but then bullishly stated that he wouldn't change his style of play. The latter statement is the most revealing, Johnson, suitably po-faced , cocking a snook at the rugby authorities. Alongside him sat England coach Clive Woodward, whose mild reprimand was submerged by a welter of references to Johnson's exemplary behaviour.

Woodward even had the temerity to insist it was a "one-off" incident, that Johnson's actions had been out of character. The English coach's supposition is not substantiated by the facts. The sin-bin is hardly an unfamiliar concept to Johnson, nor the trial by television. The England captained has suffered several times because of the all-seeing lens of the television camera.

Before cataloguing his misdemeanours, a cursory examination of his column on the Planet Rugby website offers an insight into his undiluted and non-PC views of the Russell contretemps. He suggested that the yellow card meted out by referee Dave Pearson was punishment enough. He intimated that Russell was partially at fault for barging into him to retrieve the ball after Saracens were awarded a penalty.

He petulantly stated "it looks like I'm public enemy number one again this week judging by the media reaction to our Premiership win at Saracens." He goes on to explain his side of the story. "It's not for Robbie Russell or any other player to tackle someone from behind in that situation. I caught him with a jab when I turned around. It wasn't even a big punch or anything, but when he moved away and I saw the blood streaming from the eye, I thought, 'oh God, I could be in trouble here'.

"It is unfortunate that the incident has been publicised in the manner in which it has, and if the punch hadn't made him bleed would there have been as much attention?"

So it's the fault of the porcelain-skinned Russell. Has it always been someone else's fault? What did All Black scrumhalf Justin Marshall do to deserve the punch he received in a Test match in 1997, John Leslie to have Johnson's studs on his neck in a Calcutta Cup match in 1999 or Julian White to be punched in a Cup quarter-final?

What provocation was offered when Johnson's knee broke several of Duncan McRae's ribs during the same match for which the England captain received a five-week ban? The Russell affair is not an aberration on Johnson's part and the fact that a scrum of former internationals and current team-mates rushed forward to buff his image with a patina of respectability is predictable.

Their main contention is that Johnson is forever being provoked, therefore is allowed the odd eruption. He is the team's enforcer and needs to play on the edge because he simply wouldn't be the same player if he adopted a less abrasive manner; they just stop short of saying "it's a jungle out there".

Johnson was caught red-handed punching Russell and inflicting an injury that required six stitches. It was a violent reaction and there are no extenuating or mitigating circumstances.

Former Australian outhalf and Sky Sports match analyst Michael Lynagh cut through the pseudo-criticism in the British media: "It was a blatant piece of thuggery. Johnson is such a great player and a great leader and then has the moments which spoil things. I think the referee bottled it because he should have sent him off. There is no excuse for that whatsoever. He should be banned for a long period."

How the English RFU view the matter will be revealed next week when Johnson faces an inquiry into his conduct. French coach Bernard Laporte has established the benchmark after omitting locks David Auradou and Fabien Pelous for today's game against Wales after both received yellow cards for stamping - Auradou against Italy and Pelous while playing for his club, Toulouse.

Woodward has shown no such compulsion, saying the incident took place in a club match and any suspension would not be applicable in an international context.

Johnson takes his place against Ireland at Twickenham this afternoon and has vowed that the furore surrounding the Russell affair will not alter his attitude or style of play. It hasn't in the past and judging by his utterances this week there is nothing to suggest that there is a conversion coming.