The IRISH RUGBY thread

[galwayman]

Itoje will walk onto the test Lions team.
Most likely May and Farrell anyway will also make it but Itoje is a cert.

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/saliva-test-that-detects-concussion-hailed-as-a-game-changer-1.4518236
Saliva test that detects concussion hailed as a 'game changer'
Non-invasive test shown to be 94% accurate could be in use by next season


Gavin Cummiskey


A "game changer" saliva test to detect concussion has been unveiled by the University of Birmingham in conjunction with England's Rugby Football Union.

The scientific breakthrough, which accurately identifies traumatic brain injury, follows a study of over 1,000 professional male rugby players competing in the English Premiership and Championship, over two seasons between 2017 and 2019.

The saliva test could significantly improve the effectiveness of rugby's return to play protocols as early as next season due to laboratory results, which are 94 per cent accurate, being available within 24 to 36 hours.

Currently, a player must undergo a six-day process to be deemed fit to resume playing after failing an initial head injury assessment (HIA).

"This is a real game changer and provides an invaluable tool for clinicians to diagnose concussion more consistently and accurately," said Prof Antonio Belli, a trauma neurosurgeon and senior author of the research paper published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. "What is really exciting about all of this is we have found a very accurate way of identifying brain trauma but also we have found it in saliva, which is not invasive.

"Everybody, including myself, have been looking in blood for many, many years."

It is anticipated that further research will produce a rapid pitchside test, for all contact sports, that can be used in tandem with rugby's current HIA.

"The next stage would be to make it faster and instantly available to the doctor on the bench," said Prof Belli.

The "salivary concussion test" has already been patented and is being commercialised by Marker Diagnostics, a subsidiary of the biotechnology company Marker AG, to sell as an "over-the-counter test for elite male athletes."

"Although this has started in a sporting setting, the potential ramifications are enormous," said Dr Patrick O'Halloran, a scientist employed by Marker Diagnostics and a matchday medic for Worcester Warriors. "In terms of having this measurable biological signal, it helps us to diagnose the injury, how we can monitor it and potentially even where we can intervene with treatments to try and improve the quality of life for people after this injury."

Further research is planned across two professional men's rugby competitions to enhance the current data. The study also needs to be replicated on women and children before it can be used in amateur and community sport.

"We would envisage the first place that this saliva test might really add value is 24 hours after the elite game," said Dr Simon Kemp, medical director of the RFU. "We want to use it to improve the performance of the head injury assessment.

"If we can validate the biomarker in the community game setting, its biggest potential value would be for people within sport, the military and general population who do not typically get the same clinical assessment as Owen Farrell got on Saturday."

Farrell, the England captain, was removed from last weekend's Six Nations match in Dublin for a HIA after the independent matchday doctor reviewed footage of a collision with Ireland's Iain Henderson. Farrell initially resisted the decision but he did not return to the field.

"I think it is incredibly important to stress," Dr Kemp added, "that we have tested players we know to be concussed, players who are possibly concussed but were not deemed to be concussed, players who had other musculoskeletal injuries and players who played the whole game, so it was a very robust study design."

The research and study was prompted by an informal discussion between Prof Belli and Dr Kemp at the 2016 Berlin international conference on concussion in sport.

Saliva samples were collected pre-season from 1,028 players. They were also collected from 156 of these players at three points during their HIA process; in-game, post-game and 36-48 hours after the suspected brain injury occurred.

The HIA includes a neurological examination, a series of cognitive tests and evaluation of gait and balance to determine if a player has been concussed.

Dr Éanna Falvey, World Rugby's chief medical officer and a former Irish boxing champion, commended the saliva test research ahead of the governing body's welfare symposium later this month.

"This study, its rigour and outcomes demonstrate the value in a targeted, scientific approach and reflects rugby's progressive commitment to player welfare," said Dr Falvey.

The test does not reveal sub-concussive injury despite the current legal action being taken by retired professional rugby players, who are suffering from early onset of dementia, stating, via Rylands Law firm, that World Rugby and the English and Welsh governing bodies had a duty "to take such steps and to devise and implement such rules and regulations as were required in order to remove, reduce or minimise the risks of permanent brain damage as a consequence of the known and foreseeable risk of concussive and sub-concussive injuries."

"We didn't explore that question with this particular study," added Prof Belli. "It is a very good question; rugby, football and other sports, where a player may be exposed to a sub-concussive injury, what would happen to those biomarkers?"

[seafoid]

Think our half-back pairing are being picked on very current form, Murray particularly, that may not endure until next summer. If they weren't good enough in the last WC, it's unlikely they'll be any better against the world champions.

The Lions tours is a long way away but the players picked in that article do put an interesting spin on Ireland's 6 Nations experience and how others see it. 

[sid waddell]

You can't win a Lions test series without a reliable place kicker, especially on the high veldt

The 1989 team had Gavin Hastings
1997 Neil Jenkins
2013 Leigh Halfpenny

They kicked everything

Therefore at least one of Owen Farrell or Elliott Daly will surely make the test team - they made all the difference in 2017

If Alun Wyn Jones wasn't there to be the automatic choice as captain, you'd be looking at Itoje to lead the team

Form is one thing but pedigree counts for a lot too - England have a lot of live contenders for the Test team - it's only 17 months since they beat New Zealand with a complete performance

Henry Slade's absence was keenly felt by them last Saturday, so too Manu Tuilagi, Sam Underhill and Courtney Lawes

Should be some battle for the number 7 jersey - you'd feel confident selecting any of Tom Curry, Justin Tipuric or Hamish Watson that they'd do a very solid job

Centre is fascinating - you've got North, Davies, Henshaw, Ringrose, Slade, Farrell, Tuilagi all in contention

Stuart Hogg and Anthony Watson probably would have been most people's picks for 15 and 14 a few weeks ago but they aren't looking in such a great place now

Nailed on certs for me are Furlong at 3, Itoje and AWJ in the second row, Faletau at 8

I feel that Conor Murray is finally coming into a bit of form at just the right time and is in pole position for scrum half - Gatty trusts him after 2017

With Gatty I think a lot comes down to trust, so Liam Williams, George North, Jonathan Davies, Farrell and Daly are well placed to be major contributors, while the Scottish lads probably aren't

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/gerry-thornley-financial-concerns-mean-it-s-south-africa-or-bust-for-lions-tour-1.4518206

Financial concerns mean it's South Africa or bust for Lions tour
There remains a distinct possibility of the tour being cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic
about 15 hours ago Updated: about 14 hours ago

Gerry Thornley


A reluctance to underwrite the financial losses of a 'tour' to the UK going ahead without supporters was at the heart of the decision by the British & Irish Lions board to recommit to the scheduled series in South Africa this summer.

In reaffirming their "preference" is for the tour to proceed in South Africa as scheduled, all the Lions board have done is effectively rule out the option of a tour or series taking place in the UK. Basically, now it's South Africa or bust.

There remains a distinct possibility of the tour being cancelled, due to the innumerable difficulties in countering the ever-changing Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing financial implications should the matches take place behind closed doors.

This much was acknowledged by both parties after their joint statement on Tuesday in which the Lions' board "confirmed its preference to SA Rugby on Monday evening".

"We acknowledge that there is a significant amount of work still to be undertaken to deliver a robust Covid-19 countermeasure plan to ensure a successful, safe and uninterrupted Tour," said Jason Leonard, chairman of the Lions. "SA Rugby will have our full support to help implement this plan."

Mark Alexander, president of the SA Rugby, said they "shared the Lions' desire to see a safe and successful tour" and to that end had been in regular contact with the South African government.

The sports ministry has asked the National Olympic Committee in South Africa to submit one application on behalf of all sports seeking the return of supporters, but this could be a slow process, and there is no indication as yet that Lions supporters will be permitted to travel to South Africa in July and August.

In the event that spectators are not permitted to gain access to the Test matches, Lions supporters who had successfully purchased Test match tickets via the Lions ticket ballot will be refunded.

[GetOverTheBar]

You can't win a Lions test series without a reliable place kicker, especially on the high veldt

The 1989 team had Gavin Hastings
1997 Neil Jenkins
2013 Leigh Halfpenny

They kicked everything

Therefore at least one of Owen Farrell or Elliott Daly will surely make the test team - they made all the difference in 2017

If Alun Wyn Jones wasn't there to be the automatic choice as captain, you'd be looking at Itoje to lead the team

Form is one thing but pedigree counts for a lot too - England have a lot of live contenders for the Test team - it's only 17 months since they beat New Zealand with a complete performance

Henry Slade's absence was keenly felt by them last Saturday, so too Manu Tuilagi, Sam Underhill and Courtney Lawes

Should be some battle for the number 7 jersey - you'd feel confident selecting any of Tom Curry, Justin Tipuric or Hamish Watson that they'd do a very solid job

Centre is fascinating - you've got North, Davies, Henshaw, Ringrose, Slade, Farrell, Tuilagi all in contention

Stuart Hogg and Anthony Watson probably would have been most people's picks for 15 and 14 a few weeks ago but they aren't looking in such a great place now

Nailed on certs for me are Furlong at 3, Itoje and AWJ in the second row, Faletau at 8

I feel that Conor Murray is finally coming into a bit of form at just the right time and is in pole position for scrum half - Gatty trusts him after 2017

With Gatty I think a lot comes down to trust, so Liam Williams, George North, Jonathan Davies, Farrell and Daly are well placed to be major contributors, while the Scottish lads probably aren't

Some great points, I actually forgot about North moving to the centre. In fairness, he is the perfect build to take on the South Africans. Oddly, despite being World Champions, they are the team best set up for Gatland particular style, especially with the Lions. Assume Farrell will be 12 and take on the Kicking, he's not been at his best recently but with the Saracens fiasco and the year that it is....suppose you can give him that out. He will almost certainly start IMO.

Agree Itoje / AWJ will be the locks. Itoje was there against the All Blacks, he's got the trust....AWJ speaks for himself, he'll probably retire after this tour, a living legend.

#7 will be a good battle, I think you've nailed the 3 contenders too.

[TwoUpTwoDown]

Duno about only one English player....Jonny May must be a lock for one of the starting winger spots. The Welsh boys will put him under pressure maybe. Stockdale is nowhere near that level right now. Jamie George will probably start at 2 also. Gatland knows and trusts him. Farrell will certainly be there also on same basis.

Would have Beirne much higher up the food chain than Henderson right now, I would be surprised if Henderson gets the call up at all to be honest. 

Hard to argue with the selections at 10, anyone going for Russell, Sexton or Biggar has their point. Probably I would lean towards Biggar personally. The South Africans will most certainly get 'physical'. Russell is probably the best player, but there is a question of trust there. You never know what he could do.

I'm firmly of the belief that Henderson was our player of the Six Nations. He completely bossed it and if he ran out in Blue or Red for his province the media would have said the same. Greenwood even said similar on OTB the other week and it wasn't acknowledged. I feel he is of more importance to us than Ryan atm and would probably start Beirne ahead of the latter. In fact I think Beirne and Henderson are certain to make the tour due to their ability to cover lock and back row. James Ryan doesn't offer that versatility.

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro14/rt%C3%A9-strong-contenders-to-take-over-as-primary-broadcaster-of-pro-14-rugby-1.4519173
Eir issued a statement last week confirming that the current Eir Sport business model was no longer viable and that the company was exploring future options for the service. The closure of licensed premises had "fundamentally changed the commercial model for subscription-based sports broadcasters" with television and content revenue falling from €22 million to €12 million.

[Estimator]

The Jocks really going for this. Got lucky with that try. Wayne Barnes playing another blinder

[Capt Pat]

France have got a narrow lead at half time. I don't see them getting the 21 points ahead or the 4 tries they need.

[sid waddell]

That's why Finn Russell won't be making the Lions squad

A red card for an illegal fend off when attacking the try line, he elbowed the French player in the neck

Mercurial but temperamental

Gatty doesn't like that

Probably kills off a very game Scottish effort

Hooker David Cherry could be a bolter for South Africa however

[JPGJOHNNYG]

Why didn't the French guy kick it out wtf. Why do they never save that brain dead shit for us. It's usually Wales that they gift matches to

[Rudi]

Enjoyed that, Scotland deserved the result. What was Dulin thinking?

[sid waddell]

Scotland have done it!

Brice Dulin decided to run Hamish Watson's knock on from deep inside his own 22 with time up, and conceded a penalty

Van der Merwe finishes in the corner after 85 minutes!

Scotland win in Paris for the first time in the 21st century!

What a finish to the championship!

Jamie Ritchie surely Player of the Match

[sid waddell]

That was a truly outstanding championship, surely the most exciting ever and a credit to the players of the traditional Five Nations, imagine what it would have been like with crowds

Essential now that it remains free to air and not siloed away on pay television