Ireland coach Andy Farrell has strongly defended Johnny Sexton's selection for tomorrow's second Test against New Zealand despite the head knock which forced him off in last weekend's 46-19 defeat, the BBC is reporting.
Sexton failed an initial head injury assessment but has been cleared to play after passing two subsequent tests. [See a report by P.J. Cunningham of last weekend’s game below.]
"The process was passed and he's fit to play. It wasn't concussion and we move on with the rules," said Farrell.
"The only thing that matters here is Johnny," he said. "We always, as medics and coaching staff alike, err on the side of caution first and foremost.”
Farrell argued that the iconic star, who did not show visible signs of injury when he collided with the All Blacks skipper Sam Cane, would not be at any risk in his 107th Test.
But a lobby group has criticized the decision to pick Sexton for the weekend’s game.
"Elite players who fail an in-game HIA have, by definition, displayed cognitive dysfunction requiring their removal," read a statement by the group Progressive Rugby, which includes medical professionals.
"The fact is there remains no examination by any expert that can demonstrate a brain has healed and is not at risk.
"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."
New Zealand's Sam Whitelock will miss Saturday's game because of concussion.
And the All Blacks camp has gotten involved with an implicit criticism from coach Ian Foster, saying that his side’s Sam Whitelock would not be playing because of a concussion.
“What I do know from our perspective is the protocols are crystal clear," Foster said. "If it looks like you've taken a knock and you fail an HIA, you go to a 12-day program [break].”
Ireland must do better
All Blacks 46; Ireland 19
You could make claims about getting over the line twice without touching down, you could say that Ireland gave away two tries ….and you would be deluding yourself.
Truth is Ireland found out that they operate on a level one step below where they met the All Blacks on Saturday at Eden Park and they will be up against it this weekend again when the hosts play in their favorite Dunedin venue.
Yes, we started well and Keith Earls’s try after five minutes shook the home supporters as did the fact that we were only 7-5 down after 27 minutes. Then a brace of turnover saw Ireland hit half-time 28-5 down and out of contention.
Keith Earls celebrates scoring Ireland's first try with Garry Ringrose. [Inpho/Billy Stickland]
You could say fortune didn’t favor us on the day particularly with the loss of Johnny Sexton to a bizarre head injury when he slipped and hit an opponent’s knee. Up to then the out-half had asked questions of the home three-quarters with a number of deft kicks in behind them.
Once he left Ireland only played in front of their opponents who were able to gobble them up and spit them out in pieces.
Garry Ringrose and replacement Bundee Aki also got in for tries on a day when Ireland experienced a steep learning process.
Head Coach Andy Farrell kept the mood upbeat as he looked forward to Saturday’s crucial match. “You don’t get many opportunities to break a record; it’s an outstanding record and you can see why they hold that. We’re gutted to lose but, having said that, the players know what they did well and they know how the game flowed and things that we need to fix to stay in a series next week.
“We’re here to test ourselves in all different types of manner and we’re here to test ourselves as staff to see how we cope with two matches and we’re here to see if our players have got excuses or not in regard to backing up and different ways of training.
“Doing it that way makes us stronger as a group, makes our culture stronger, makes our environment stronger and makes us ready for obstacles that are going to get in our way certainly over the next 18 months,” he added.
-- P.J. Cunningham
