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Referee Damon Murphy was criticised online after allegedly rushing medics to come to a decision on whether or not Jack Nowell needed a HIA early in the first half.
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Concussion remains a hot button topic in the sport and a conversation between the referee and the England medic was picked by eagled-eyed viewers.
Nowell was involved in much of England’s best work but was taken off with an injury sustained while tackling. It took several minutes before a medic could intervene before Nowell was replaced by Elliot Daly.
He subsequently failed his HIA and didn’t return.
However, the Australian official was accused of rushing a decision on whether not a Nowell needed a HIA, which was adjudicated by an independent doctor at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Concussion activist Twitter account Progressive Rugby wrote: “Oh my goodness. Please tell me the ref has not just rushed a team into making a decision around a HIA?”
Oh my goodness.
Please tell me the ref has not just rushed a team into making a decision around a HIA?#ITAvENG
— Progressive Rugby (@ProgressiveRug) February 13, 2022
“As ever, there’ll be plenty of talk across the weekend of poor officiating in many different sports. Nothing will be anywhere near as bad as Damon Murphy rushing the HIA that Jack Nowell ultimately fails. Irresponsible, idiotic, wrong,” wrote journalist John Collins.
As ever, there’ll be plenty of talk across the weekend of poor officiating in many different sports. Nothing will be anywhere near as bad as Damon Murphy rushing the HIA that Jack Nowell ultimately fails. Irresponsible, idiotic, wrong. #ITAvENG #ITVRugby #SixNationsRugby
— John Collins (@JayCeeRadio) February 13, 2022
“Pathetic from the referee rushing the England medic to make a decision about Nowell’s HIA. It was being looked at by the independent doctors for them to decide. All the chat about protecting players and the referee is trying to make it about him,” wrote one account.
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https://twitter.com/Josh_____T/status/1492881381155905539
“So Jack Nowell has failed a head injury assessment after Damon Murphy initially allowed the HIA to be delayed? Serious questions need to be asked as to why the official initially allowed him to carry on,” wrote another.
So Jack Nowell has failed a head injury assessment after Damon Murphy initially allowed the HIA to be delayed? Serious questions need to be asked as to why the official initially allowed him to carry on. #ITAvENG
— Gregg ??????? (@GreggC_CC) February 13, 2022
England are aiming to revive a Guinness Six Nations marred by their opening-day setback against Scotland when they face Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.
Eddie Jones has picked a side showing six changes in personnel and two positional switches with Harry Randall’s selection ahead of Ben Youngs at scrum-half designed to bring tempo to the attack.
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Italy have lost their previous 33 Six Nations matches in a run dating back to 2015 and are heavy underdogs to register a first win in the rivalry.
additional reporting PA
It is not the decision of the England medical staff if an HIA is needed, it is the decision of the independent doctor who made a call and Nowell was assessed and rightly taken off. Did the ref try to interfere with the independent doctor? Before you try to make something out of this I suggest you spend some time investigating the England Medic from the U20 game on Friday with Italy who argued with the ref that they had done their assessment and the player should carry on when the independent doctor had said he should have an HIA. That is a real issue that needs addressing.
Has Murphy been contacted to give his reasoning?