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Lions clarify Biggar situation after criticism over concussion

30 Jul 2021

(Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Lions assistant coach Robin McBryde has moved to dilute the criticism of confusing comments made on Thursday by skipper Alun Wyn Jones about Dan Biggar and his progress through the return to play protocols following his concussion in last Saturday’s first Test win over the Springboks.

Asked how likely it was that Biggar would start this Saturday’s second Test after he was included in Warren Gatland’s Lions team at out-half, Jones said: “I wasn’t aware he was carrying anything. As I can see he has trained fully and I am not a part of the medical team so I can’t give you any committed answer on that.”

Has he been able to train much this week? “As I already said, yes.”

Rassie Erasmus’ spectacular 26-clip, hour-long criticism of the first Test officials

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Rassie Erasmus’ spectacular 26-clip, hour-long criticism of the first Test officials

This clipped answer from Jones was soon criticised by Progressive Rugby, the concussion awareness group who were previously on the Lions’ case earlier this month when Luke Cowan-Dickie was chosen on the bench in Johannesburg just a week after he was knocked out playing for Exeter in the Gallagher Premiership final.

Commenting on Twitter, Progressive Rugby wrote: “Deflating to hear Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones wasn’t ‘aware he [Dan Biggar] was carrying anything’ and believes he has trained fully this week. Wow. Just wow. Never mind Biggar’s distressing concussion history. Look. After. The. Players. Please.”

Deflating to hear Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones wasn’t “aware he (Dan Biggar) was carrying anything” and believes he’s trained fully this week.
Wow. Just wow.😳🤬
Never mind Biggar’s distressing concussion history.
Look. After. The. Players.
Please.https://t.co/G0LhtCe4rp
— Progressive Rugby (@ProgressiveRug) July 29, 2021

Given this negative reaction it was inevitable that the Biggar situation would be a talking point when McBryde fronted a breakfast time media briefing on Friday in Cape Town. “I am not going to deviate from this letter that I have got here to read out in preparation for a question of manner. Hopefully there is enough there for you to be satisfied with.”

The statement read by McBryde was: “Dan Biggar will complete his graduated return to play with his final contact session ahead of the match on Saturday. He has been symptom free since his post-match head injury assessment and has remained symptom free throughout the process. He has been monitored daily by two consultant sport physicians and has also been reviewed by an independent concussion consultant.

“This process has been successfully utilised to allow for independent verification of the medial management undertaken in all concussion cases during the tour in South Africa to date.

“All players will have an individualised and highly integrated approach to the management with a multitude of factors being taken into consideration. Our players’ health remains the absolute priority and we continue to deliver the highest level of care independent of any match regardless of its importance.”

"Concussion is obviously an emotive area and there will be many opinions on this and we welcome those…"#LionsRugby https://t.co/ybK8fiV5Mv
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 14, 2021

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Comments on RugbyPass

PR 15 minutes ago

Glasgow hit back at Stephen Donald's 'absolutely unfounded' comments

Please, Donald only kicked that penalty because every 10 in NZ and his dog went down with an injury and he was drafted in as an emergency. I mean, hats off to him for holding his nerve, but don’t paint him as a great player. And as a pundit he’s a dullard.

Also, Barrett is playing in the best club side in the world which is making it easy for him to shine. And he’s not won sh*t just yet. All the comps are coming to the business end so we’ll see how he ends the season.

31 Go to comments

PR 23 minutes ago

Glasgow hit back at Stephen Donald's 'absolutely unfounded' comments

Conveniently ignoring the fact that Barrett is playing in the best club side in the world that is making it easy FOR him. It’s difficult for NZ to accept that they have become an outpost in the rugby landscape. All the power and money is in the NH, especially with South Africa now playing there as well. Second is probably Japan and then NZ. You’ll see more and more players leaving SR and not just for the money but because they want to win a cup that actually means something on the world stage. Does it really mean that much for NZ-based players to win the SR title AGAIN after pumping Aussie, Samoan and Fiji sides? It’s shooting fish in a barrel.

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Rowland Curren 23 minutes ago

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Mark 24 minutes ago

Edinburgh sign ‘highly rated’ Leicester Tigers prop James Whitcombe

One wonders whether Tigers ongoing coaching issues are playing a part in both the retention and procurement of players!!

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CM 32 minutes ago

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Remind me of his “class” during his abysmal Autumn International appearances.

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Rowland Curren 33 minutes ago

Former England star leads Benetton to huge URC result over Lions

WA: + 4 4 7 4 1 8 3 6 7 2 0 4

7 Go to comments

PR 41 minutes ago

Glasgow hit back at Stephen Donald's 'absolutely unfounded' comments

I was talking about TV viewership. If you compare Super Rugby with URC, Champions Cup and Challenge Cup there’s no real comparison. In terms of attendance some of the bigger games draw crowds of 80,000 so the NH is doing just fine in that regard.

And you are confusing running a round a lot with intensity. If you don’t think Leinster vs Munster or the Bulls vs Stormers is intense you simply haven’t watched enough rugby being played the northern hemisphere comps.

Purely in terms of playing talent the NH comps are streets ahead. NH comps made up of seven of the world’s top 10 nations. SR has three and that includes a struggling Australia.

I like watching SR and thankfully it’s getting more competitive but it’s not superior to URC. And it’s not in the same ballpark as Champions Cup.

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MT 54 minutes ago

Glasgow hit back at Stephen Donald's 'absolutely unfounded' comments

Only if their playing in the sunshine of Perth mate, nowhere else.

31 Go to comments

Rowland Curren 1 hour ago

Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

WA: + 4 4 7 4 1 8 3 6 7 2 0 4

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NB 1 hour ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

I don’t see any problem with the way the bench has been interpreted in practice, and whatever the intention really was it doesn’t matter. So why is a review necessary?

217 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

Don’t be so disingenuous JW. I’ve been as clear as daylight in way I constructed the article and the conclusions I’ve drawn. The AB forwards/backs sizes actually support the theory too.

You may not agree but you’ve given no evidence to support it.

217 Go to comments

NB 1 hour ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

They won’t start Jegou ahead of the others as a specialist 7.

The pattern of picking a huge THP and big bloke behind goes all the way down to the 20’s, where a couple of years back they had a 130 kilo THP and Posolo Tuilagi [150 k’s] behind him.

As far as NZ goes, the forwards average out at 116 k’s [I prefer EDG to Tamaiti as I think he’s still the starting #1], the backs at 95 kilos, so the total is +21 kilos which supports the theory!

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Tracy Robbins 2 hours ago

The Champions' Cup - a paradise lost?

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Tracy Robbins 2 hours ago

How 'misunderstood' Rassie Erasmus is rolling back the clock

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