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World Rugby issue immediate change to HIA protocol
By Ian Cameron
Reporting from Yokohama: World Rugby have issued an immediate HIA clarification due to the length of time it is taking players to get to their assessments.
There have been several HIAs already in the first weekend of the tournament - both South Africa's Faf de Klerk and Fiji's Peceli Yato failed HIAs yesterday.
However, with many of the pitches being new to both players and support staff, there have been delays in players beginning their assessment, which normally lasts 10 minutes from the point at which they leave the field.
The statement reads:
"World Rugby has announced a Rugby World Cup 2019-specific clarification of Law 3.27b relating to the timing of the Head Injury Assessment (HIA).
"Specifically for Rugby World Cup, with immediate effect, the official 10-minute HIA window will commence from the moment the temporarily replaced player enters the HIA room, rather than when the player leaves the playing area. This is to facilitate slightly longer distances to the HIA room from the field of play at some of the venues.
"World Rugby has also reiterated that ff the time allowed for a temporary replacement elapses during half-time, the replacement shall become permanent unless the replaced player returns to the field of play immediately at the start of the second half."
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen and captain Kieran James Read reflect on their side's 23-13 victory over New Zealand in the opening fixture of their campaign to defend the World Cup.
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Latest Comments
They bend the rules for pre-existing All Blacks, provided you've signed for a NZ franchise the following year.
Go to commentsUnder Rassie it is 5 wins for ABs, 1 draw, and 7 wins for the Boks. Of those games, only 3 were played in NZ, and 5 played in SA, and 5 on neutral ground.
Of the 3 played in NZ, the ABs only lost once. Of the games played in SA, SBs are 5-2, and on neutral ground its 3-2 to the Boks.
Seems pretty even to me, considering this is the greatest Boks team ever (I still think 2007 was better).
If Rassie wins, this will be the best Boks team ever, but the ABs aren't scared of a team who barely scrape wins against a reforming ABs team, and lost to an undercooked Irish side twice last year.
I predict a 7+ point win, leading by 13+ at halftime.
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