Stuart Barnes: Concussion is rugby's biggest headache but we can cut the risks

Better tackling technique and changing the choke tackle rule would cut the risk of concussion in rugby, says Stuart Barnes.

Here is hoping the concussion experts who I have been reading about this morning are being overly cautious and that George North is fit to play again before the season is out.

Concussion is the sport’s biggest headache at the moment. Firstly, as a concern for those potential victims and secondly for the perception of the game; rugby is not quite the gladiatorial game of violence some of the more hysterical commentators on sport would have you believe. Although that is not to dismiss the speed and power of today’s player and the alarming extra instances of the type of blow which North is suffering from. It is a major worry but hysteria is not the answer. 

I don’t understand why a player who has suffered the sort of concussion North has against England in Cardiff is not playing in headgear. It is not 100 per cent preventative but the risk of injuries is limited. Everyone plays with a gum shield, at what stage will players decide that a scrum cap is a smart idea?

Too often players throw their torso and head in front of runners, especially big ones. They are not tackling the ball carriers but using themselves as human obstacles.

Without wishing to join the witch-hunters who love the slightest hint of violence in a sport that has always thrived on the legality of its aggression, there are a few easy ways to cut the risks. One is to learn how to tackle properly. The technique of so many players at test match level is inferior to school children’s coaching 40 years ago.

Leigh Halfpenny is not playing for Toulon against Wasps in Sunday’s Champions Cup quarter-final because his technique in the tackle for Wales against Italy was terrible, leading with the head rather than his nearside shoulder. There was not a lad playing the game at Bassaleg School through the 1970s who would have made such a mess of a tackle.

Technique

Too often players throw their torso and head in front of runners, especially big ones. They are not tackling the ball carriers, but are instead using themselves as human obstacles. Some coaches are encouraging players to employ such a technique. Players are also tackling with their heads up and their body upright, trying to hold the attacker from the ground and affect the turnover. Head collisions become far more likely in this instance.

The problem can be addressed by better technique and the lawmakers changing the choke tackle rule. If the team going forward win the put-in despite the ball being held up, the head-on-head risk lessens because the advantage gained disappears, as does a negative tactic which slows the game.

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Then there is sheer bad luck which can happen to anyone at any level. Alas, it struck North in the form of Nathan Hughes’ leg. It was an awful moment for North and it wasn’t great for Hughes, who was shown one of the most ridiculous red cards I have ever seen. I have watched the replay endless occasions and cannot find the penalty let alone the red card.

I heard one of the commentators mention the word 'outcome’ after a conversation with an assistant referee. Any officials who think the outcome of an incident should impact upon a decision should think again, and if not then they should be told by respective officiating bodies. This is a philosophy driven by the witch-hunt mentality. To ‘outcome’ believers I recommend a trip to the theatre to see Arthur Miller’s 'The Crucible' or better still, get a DVD immediately. The sport is running out of time to stamp on this deranged thinking.

Had North been fine and gone on to score four tries would the 'incident' have been any the less? Outcome is the death of logic and triumph of the thin veneer of perception. It would be a good start for Hughes to be released to play this weekend, with the daft red card more than enough of a punishment for an accident with unintended consequences.

Easter in Europe

As for this coming weekend, what an Easter it promises to be. I have to make the journeys to Clermont and Toulon but hey, someone has to do it… Clermont are level with Toulon on points in the Top 14 but they did lose on Saturday (away, so irrelevant) and they do have their outstanding half-backs out injured (very relevant).

If the English champions and clear league leaders can make a better start than they did against Wasps on Friday night they could cause major problems. Clermont are the favourites but, with Courtney Lawes and Samu Manoa up for the battle, the Saints have a shock in them.

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Toulon have been lambasted by their owner (how he likes a lambast) and will be anything but complacent when the Wasps arrive on the Med. Wasps played some sharp stuff against the Saints, but I can’t help but think Toulon’s recent home loss will be more of a hindrance than help. It should be a thriller with men like a certain Toulon flanker, Joe Simpson and Christian Wade using the occasion to try to put some pressure on Stuart Lancaster.

Leinster versus Bath is a classic. The Irish team are not in dominant mode this season but with Cian Healy and especially Sean O’Brien back in action, they will be favourites against a Bath team including George Ford and Jonathon Joseph.

The fourth quarter-final is between Racing Metro and Saracens. If Saracens can maintain their recent domestic form they have a chance - even in France. If Metro repeat their sweeping performance when they blew the Saints away at the Gardens, make it a French victory. If Metro play that well between now and the end of the European season they’ll win the Champions Cup. Saracens will be eager to see whether that was a one-off performance.

In the Challenge Cup, Exeter are my idea of clear tournament favourites. Of the other seven teams just Connacht is in the top half of their league, while only Edinburgh could be said to be in excellent form. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne was impressive in an Edinburgh effort that saw them take the Scarlets’ home record last Saturday. They travel away to London Irish but will fancy their chances.

Gloucester versus Connacht appears the pick of the quartet while the East Wales scrap between Blues and Dragons will appeal to an audience who enjoy the claustrophobia of a derby game. It won’t be pretty but like the weekend it will be intriguing.

On that note, time for me to pop downstairs and watch the Clermont game from last weekend...work eh?

Stuart answers your questions...

Got a question for Stuart? Email him at skysportsclub@bskyb.com, tweet @SkySportsRugby #askskyrugby or use the feedback form on skysports.com.

Hi Stuart. Do you think expanding the Aviva Premiership to 14 teams and scrapping relegation is a good idea? I’m a Quins fan and a season in the second tier did us no harm, and I’m sure Northampton would agree. London Welsh got it all wrong this year but Exeter have been a breath of fresh air since promotion. If we ring fence the Premiership are we endangering the lives of Championship teams? Thomas Harrington

STUART REPLIES: Thomas, I think it is a terrible idea unless we know there are no clubs in England with professional aspirations. The drama at the bottom end of the table has held great interest in most years and London Welsh's exception does not make a rule. When the business is sport, fine; when sport becomes a business watch out. The 14 clubs would be franchises free to move when 'the market' doesn't suit them. I hate the idea of an elite group telling the rest of England there is no room for another `Exeter.' We are endangering the essence of the sport when we ring fence.

Stuart, Glasgow and Edinburgh restored some of my faith in Scottish rugby last weekend following a dismal Six Nations. In order to improve on the international stage, do you think we should consider re-entering a third team in the PRO12? Regards, Alastair Webb

STUART REPLIES: No, Alastair, thinning out the quality is not the answer, at least I don't think it is. Look how Australian rugby has struggled even after the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force have been added to their Super Rugby roster.

Hi Stuart. I’ve still not gotten bored of watching highlights from the final day of the Six Nations, but is there an argument to be made for promotion and relegation? I know the competition is a major cash cow for countries but surely if we want to improve the international game we need to give the likes of Georgia and Romania something to strive for. Ciaran Gilmartin.

STUART REPLIES: Ciaran, Yes, yes, yes...what comes first, business or sport? This is a similar question to that of Thomas. The Six Nations is an elite competition that should not be allowed to deprive growing rugby nations from a crack at playing in a tournament that would help them develop on the world stage. I think a play-off is required to ensure the gap between competitions is not too great, but with that caveat in place let's give Georgia and Romania a chance and let's heap some pressure on Scotland and Italy, or whichever team is struggling in the years to come.