Gatland to lead the Lions in 2021.......again!

No 7&1/2 wrote:That test does show how far safety has come on Iin  rugby doesn't it. Very little chance o'Gara would be on the field at that point now.

ENGLAND’S deadly finisher Chris Ashton has admitted he made a mistake in staying on the pitch at Twickenham against South Africa 12 days ago after being knocked out. He needed five minutes of treatment after slumping to the ground following a tackle on Victor Matfield which broke the Springbok captain’s rib and sent Northampton wing Ashton into cloud cuckoo land.

Despite the reservations of referee George Clancy, Ashton insisted he could continue and went on to play all but 10 minutes of the game.

“At the time you don’t really think whether it is the right thing to carry on, you just want to play – but coming off would probably have been the right decision for me and for the team, more importantly,” said Ashton.

“I have watched it and I do appear to be all right but I didn’t play how I normally play. I didn’t get involved in the game as much as I normally like to, so I definitely wasn’t with it.

“The medical staff kept checking every five minutes and I kept saying I was all right, so I kept up a good act. I was very convincing. The ref wanted me to go off and I can’t remember anything about the game, so obviously I wasn’t fine. All I remember is coming off and sitting on the bench. I think I remember the bus journey, but then again we did the same bus journey every week so I might not.”

However, Northampton coach Dorian West has no issues with England’s approach to player welfare. “Rugby is rugby. I’ve been in that position myself and you just want to stay on and play,” he said. “Chris wanted to stay on the pitch and the only thing you can do in that situation is monitor a player.”