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Toulouse 'to adopt two-doctor approach to HIAs' after Palisson incident

Alexis Palisson (left) in action during the match against La Rochelle

An ‘independent’ doctor will assist Toulouse’s medical personnel in treating any future head injury cases, the club has said in response mounting pressure over the treatment of Alexis Palisson during last weekend’s Top 14 match against La Rochelle at Stade Ernest Wallon.

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Palisson left the pitch after this collision with La Rochelle’s Levani Botai in the 13th minute of last weekend’s game

https://twitter.com/greub1/status/838422731012059137

left him, temporarily, like this

Six minutes later, however, Palisson returned to finish the game, having apparently passed a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).

Two days after the match, Bernard Laporte’s enforcer at the FFR, Serge Simon – a doctor, former player and one-time president of the French players’ union – described the incident as ‘scandalous’.

The Palisson case is unacceptable in modern rugby,” Simon told France’s RMC Sport. “It’s scandalous that a player had a blatant and unmistakable concussion … yet he returned to the field of play.”

“We know today the dangers of repeated concussions … How did Palisson stay on the field?

An investigation will be launched into all aspects of the incident, including the actions of match officials and club staff, he said, adding: “In this day and age, it is no longer possible to make things better with a magic sponge,” he said.

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In a statement released on Friday, five days after the incident, Toulouse insisted player welfare was its primary concern, and that it had properly complied with the Ligue National de Rugby’s concussion protocol directives.

But, it added, the club doctor did not see the collision; nor did he see Palisson stagger and stumble into an assistant referee immediately afterwards.

Stade Ernest Wallon is equipped with a number of giant screens on which a live feed from French Top 14 broadcaster Canal Plus is routinely broadcast, including instant highlights of key moments.

Toulouse’s statement added the winger passed an HIA before returning to the pitch. It did not say whether the medical approach would have been different if the doctor had seen what unfolded on the pitch before Palisson was helped off for assessment, but the implication is that Palisson would have received attention in line with World Rugby protocols had medical staff been fully aware of what happened.

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Those protocols state that any player displaying clear or suspected signs of loss of consciousness should be permanently and immediately removed from the field of play.

In such cases, no HIA should take place.

From now on, medical staff on match days will have access to a handheld tablet device on which to review action from the game, the statement continued.

Furthermore, it added, a doctor ‘from outside the club will assist the club doctor’ in the treatment of head injuries and the management of concussion protocols at Toulouse matches both at home and away.

The relationship between the club’s medical staff and the independent doctor remains unknown, including what may happen in the case of any disagreement over player management in cases of head injuries.

Finally, Toulouse insisted in the statement that all injuries of this type have always been examined with the utmost attention and protocols have been widely observed.

The player, meanwhile, has defended the club. “I remembered everything and had a normal discussion with the doctor in the corridor. I told him everything, and it was as if nothing had happened. I did the balance test … and I passed. I was fine.”

“I have total confidence in our doctor and a tremendous respect for his work. He did not see me fall, maybe it was a small mistake, but if someone took a risk, it was me because I did not tell him to lose the balance, not him.”

He will miss Toulouse’s trip to Brive this weekend, but is confident that he will return to normal training ‘on Monday’.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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