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Johnny Sexton's 'phantom' concussion causes confusion
By Ian Cameron
Jonny Sexton's selection for Ireland for the second Test in Dunedin following an apparent head knock in the first Test against New Zealand last Saturday has raised questions around World Rugby's new protocols.
Many assumed that Sexton would be unable to play under new World Rugby protocols which require a player who was concussed to spend at least 12 days out of the game.
The Ireland flyhalf slipped into a tackle and his head connected with the arm of All Blacks' back row Sam Cane. Sexton could be seen clutching his head after the incident and was duly sent for a Head Injury Assessment.
Despite failing a HIA 1 and not returning to the field, Sexton passed a HIA 2 three hours later, before passing a HIA 3 72 hours on the from the initial incident.
As such he is adjudged not to have suffered a concussion.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has now selected his talisman for the 2nd Test and it's not gone unnoticed by those championing player safety.
Progressive Rugby released a statement this morning: “Elite players who fail an in-game HIA1 have, by definition, displayed cognitive dysfunction requiring their removal. In three days later we are told it has identified a phantom one (Sexton).
“The fact is there remains no examination by any expert that can demonstrate a brain has healed and is not at risk of further damage. As such, if player welfare is truly the game’s number one priority, the only option must be to err on the side of caution - otherwise the new elite protocols are failing in their key purpose."
Rugby writer Peter Jackson caught the mood, writing: "Johnny Sexton, withdrawn half an hour into last week's Test after a head blow, failed his Head Injury Assessment. Ireland have passed him fit for an immediate return. How can that be when World Rugby's new rule requires a 12-day stand down following a concussion? More confusion."
The decision comes just a week after Ireland prop Jeremy Loughman's concussion was missed during the Maori All Blacks game. The loosehead returned to the field despite being clearly wobbly on his feat following a collision.
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Latest Comments
The boy needs to bulk up if wants to play 10 or 11 to handle those hits, otherwise he could always make a brilliant reserve for the wings if he stays away from the stretcher.
Go to commentsIn another recent article I tried to argue for a few key concept changes for EPCR which I think could light the game up in the North.
First, I can't remember who pointed out the obvious elephant in the room (a SA'n poster?), it's a terrible time to play rugby in the NH, and especially your pinnacle tournament. It's been terrible watching with seemingly all the games I wanted to watch being in the dark, hardly able to see what was going on. The Aviva was the only stadium I saw that had lights that could handle the miserable rain. If the global appeal is there, they could do a lot better having day games.
They other primary idea I thuoght would benefit EPCR most, was more content. The Prem could do with it and the Top14 could do with something more important than their own league, so they aren't under so much pressure to sell games. The quality over quantity approach.
Trim it down to two 16 team EPCR competitions, and introduce a third for playing amongst the T2 sides, or the bottom clubs in each league should simply be working on being better during the EPCR.
Champions Cup is made up of league best 15 teams, + 1, the Challenge Cup winner. Without a reason not to, I'd distribute it evenly based on each leauge, dividing into thirds and rounded up, 6 URC 5 Top14 4 English. Each winner (all four) is #1 rank and I'd have a seeding round or two for the other 12 to determine their own brackets for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. I'd then hold a 6 game pool, home and away, with consecutive of each for those games that involve SA'n teams. Preferrably I'd have a regional thing were all SA'n teams were in the same pool but that's a bit complex for this simple idea.
That pool round further finalises the seeding for knockout round of 16. So #1 pool has essentially duked it out for finals seeding already (better venue planning), and to see who they go up against 16, 15,etc etc. Actually I think I might prefer a single pool round for seeding, and introduce the home and away for Ro16, quarters, and semis (stuffs up venue hire). General idea to produce the most competitive matches possible until the random knockout phase, and fix the random lottery of which two teams get ranked higher after pool play, and also keep the system identical for the Challenge Cup so everthing is succinct. Top T2 side promoted from last year to make 16 in Challenge Cup
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