Re: Six Nations

[iamthelaw]

Will come back on the O’Gara thing, but just see in the news to the left that injury has forced Canale out of the Italian side for Saturday, he’ll be a big loss for them so good news for us. Awaiting this afternoon’s decision to see if Mauro Bergamasco will be missing too (surely he’ll be banned).

Speaking of disciplinary hearings, I see Trevor Brennan has retired in advance of his. As far as I’m concerned he’s a legend, and responded in the best possible fashion to poor treatment at Leinster by going on to feature more promininently for a Toulouse side that won two European Cups. Though for me the high point of his career will be singing Dublin In the Rare Ould Times from the old stand in Lansdowne (sounded like he was underneath the stand!) after the 2001 Celtic League final.

[Bandage]

Was that the game Leinster won with 14 men?

[iamthelaw]

@Bandage

Was that the game Leinster won with 14 men?

Yes, straight red (deserved) for Eric Miller on 25 mins.

[iamthelaw]

@therock67

@iamthelaw

@therock67

ROG will have to undergo medical examination anyway and a doctor will have to sign off on whether he is fit to take part next week or not.

Is this actually the case? I thought the medical examination was only obligatory in the case of suspected concussion. In which case the conspiracy theory (for Rome, I agree the Munster element is a bridge too far) is still plausible imo.

The onus of declaring players fit is now on the team doctor. In the olden days they could rely on a hard and fast rule about concussion. These days if there is a suspicion of concussion the doctor must investigate and pass medical judgement. It’s not a case of him giving ROG the all-clear because the media didn’t find out about it. If the doctor wanted to lie he could just say “yeah he got concussion but he’s fine now.” I cannot imagine any doctor pretending he doesn’t know that ROG was concussed just so he doesn’t have to test him. The doctor (Gary O’Driscoll isn’t it?) treated him on the park so he’ll know whether it’s suspected concussion or not and will be obliged to act on it accordingly. If you’re suggesting he’ll lie about whether concussion is suspected or not then why wouldn’t he just lie about the results of his tests? Either way it’s malpractice and highly implausible IMO.

The International Rugby Board defines concussion as occurring “when the brain is injured following a blow to the head or face”, therefore if the choking story is believed this would not count as concussion. Also, there is no reference to a requirement for the doctor to declare players fit generally, or to investigate cases of suspected concussion. Where are you getting this from Rock?