Ireland captain Johnny Sexton was passed fit for the second test after some confusion around his mid-game exit last week. Photo / Photosport
OPINION:
An observation...
Another week of rugby's conversation being dictated by the doctors and judiciary officers of social media and internet forums. People always cry out for better scrutiny of head knocks, which is fair enough. However, Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has now passed what has been asked of him
in his second and third head injury assessments done in the days after the match, with a more scientific and neurological approach. HIA1 (during the game) dictates whether a player is fit to return to the game, he wasn't. Sexton has a history of head knocks which means he should be cautious, but I'm not sure why "vibes-based" armchair diagnosis from a Twitter account with a name and bunch of numbers should win out over an actual medical opinion. Last time I was sick I didn't contact @Dave02927373 to get a second opinion.
A suggestion...
To be clear – I am an advocate of rugby taking a strong stance on concussion and believe it is the major issue facing the game. That is where rugby finds itself in a bind. The new protocols seem stringent, but are they able to be easily understood by fans? Unlikely given the confusion this week. A 12-day automatic standdown when you leave the field and don't return would help clear things up. It would be performative in some instances however, when players are neurologically fine post-game.
