Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Tuesday, August 2.
World Rugby chief defends Ireland over Sexton HIA call
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin says Ireland were within their rights to start Johnny Sexton in the second Test against the All Blacks in Dunedin last month.
The Ireland skipper was withdrawn in the first Test defeat for the tourists after colliding with New Zealand skipper Sam Cane. However, he was selected by Andy Farrell for the second Test, which Ireland won.
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The decision to play the 37-year-old was questioned by All Blacks head coach Ian Foster and was also criticised by safety campaigners.
Sexton proved vital to what was a historic victory, and Gilpin insists Ireland were well within their rights to include him in the second Test reckoning.
“It was an incident which was actually misunderstood as Johnny came off with a HIA1, which is effectively a tool to try and understand whether he’s been concussed," Gilpin told PA.
“In that case he actually passed HIA1, which means he wasn’t concussed.
“Ireland took the more conservative approach and he didn’t return to the field of play. So he didn’t go to the return-to-play protocol because he wasn’t concussed in the first place – and that’s a really important distinction for us.
“I think we saw across the July series that national teams were careful handling players, as well as our adjustment to the graduated return to play in an individualised approach before that window.
“It meant that players who had suffered what we call ‘Criteria One’ and who have clear symptoms can’t return in that first 12-day period. The implementation of that was really good.”
Scott Robertson cops flak
Successful Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has copped flak in New Zealand for putting himself on the market.
Robertson, who can't stop winning Super Rugby titles, recently said he was open to offers from abroad if he continues to be overlooked for the All Blacks job moving forward.
It put rugby nations all over the world on red alert and New Zealand great Jeff Wilson took issue with the timing of the comments, with current All Blacks boss Ian Foster clinging to his job after a series defeat to Ireland this summer.
Speaking on the Breakdown, Wilson said: "The problem is Scott Robertson has come out and said he wants to go and win two Rugby World Cups with two different teams, he wants to get the opportunity to coach at the international level," Wilson said.
"Interesting he said that when he's actually under contract with New Zealand Rugby. I find that difficult. The fact that he's going to coach the Barbarians; I think he had the opportunity to coach the All Blacks XV and he turned that down. We know exactly where Scott Robertson sits right now.
"His expectations are he wants to go to the next level. But they (NZR) have got a job to do. I think this puts New Zealand Rugby in a really difficult situation."
Tier structure set to be axed
World Rugby is poised to axe the Tier system in global rugby in favour of a merit-based system.
The move will be overseen by new recruit Neil Hallett, who will take the role of the governing body's first independent ethics officer, a role which will see him support its new integrity code.
However, Hallett will function independently of World Rugby. Among other things, he will determine whether candidates for appointment as World Rugby officials meet the requirements and to vet them for any ‘Integrity Code’ violations.
According to Rugby Pass, the move away from tier structures comes on the back of a comprehensive review, which has suggested a new merit-based classification of unions, as well as new targets on widening female, independence, player and nation/region representation within World Rugby’s committees.
Springboks sent stark warning ahead of next World Cup
South Africa could well be headed for a quarter-final exit at the next World Cup in France due to the strength of competition they face.
That's the verdict of SuperSport columnist Gavin Rich, who fears the Springboks will lose their grip on their crown well before the final at the Stade de France next October.
The defending champions have been drawn in a pool with Ireland and Scotland, and will likely have to face either France or New Zealand at the quarter-final stage.
"It is certainly a more obstacle-ridden path to World Cup glory this time for the Boks than the one they faced in Japan," Rich wrote for SuperSport.
“A lot was made of their opening game in the 2019 tournament against New Zealand, but ultimately it didn’t have much relevance other than that Siya Kolisi’s team ended up playing hosts Japan in their quarterfinal rather than Ireland.
“This time they are going to have to bump one of the pre-tournament favourites in the quarter-final round. There is no avoiding it.
“And as games against both New Zealand and France can depend so much just on how the ball bounces on the day and how well you take your chances, there is a very real chance the Boks could be dethroned at the quarterfinal phase.”
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