| Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Friday, 11 March Kick-off: 20:00 GMT |
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Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has defended the choice to choose Tomas Francis to face France within the Six Nations in Cardiff on Friday.
Pivac says the prop has been cleared by an impartial concussion knowledgeable after struggling a head knock towards England.
Main physician Professor John Fairclough mentioned it could be “a grave mistake” if Wales chosen Francis.
“We have a really skilled medical crew who we predict are world class and specialists of their subject,” mentioned Pivac.
Ospreys entrance row Francis collided with Owen Watkin through the twentieth minute of the 23-19 defeat towards England at Twickenham.
Tv footage confirmed Francis staggering following a conflict of heads, and he additionally appeared to lean on the publish pads for help.
The 29-year-old was faraway from the pitch for a head damage evaluation which he handed, earlier than returning and taking part in till the 56th minute.
Participant welfare foyer group Progressive Rugby wrote an open letter to World Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and the Six Nations final week expressing its concern over the episode, which is at present being reviewed by Six Nations Rugby.
Francis and Cardiff wing Josh Adams, who additionally suffered a head damage towards England, have been cleared to play when France go to the Principality Stadium on Friday.
Pivac mentioned Wales had gone to additional lengths to make sure Francis is match to function by using a number one concussion knowledgeable to look at the previous Exeter participant.
“Each Josh and Tomas have been seen by our medical crew after the sport, the follow-up protocols and return-to-play tips set by World Rugby have been adopted carefully,” he mentioned.
“At every stage of these processes, they’ve come by fantastic.
“We have gone the additional mile with Tomas and acquired an impartial concussion specialist concerned.
“He is acquired the historical past of the participant and likewise had a take a look at the footage from the match. He is been taken although the protocols which we have adopted, that are World Rugby’s protocols.
“He is supportive the participant is evident to be chosen. On that foundation, and in session with the participant, we have determined to pick out him.”
Criticism over the Francis state of affairs has come from outdoors the Wales camp.
“Individuals specific their views they usually’re entitled to do this,” added Pivac.
“Everyone seems to be entitled to their opinion, however the specialists coping with it on the bottom are doing so each day and are specialists in concussion.
“We have to remain centered on what we’re coping with and that is gamers’ security.
“We undergo the stringent protocols we all know we’ve to undergo.
“We have an skilled medical crew and by getting the impartial individual in on prime of that, it exhibits how critical we’re.
“The participant is a part of the session course of all over. I do not assume any participant enjoys being within the highlight for these types of issues.
“He is working arduous, head down and bottom up. In his thoughts, he is good to go.
“He is adopted and trusts the processes and the individuals who have put them in place.”
Professor Fairclough has been essentially the most vocal critic of the Twickenham incident, saying Francis can be at “pointless danger of great hurt” if chosen towards France.
He has labored with the WRU previously and is taken into account a number one orthopaedic surgeon.
“With no disrespect to the gentleman you’re alluding to, we’re going with specialists in concussion,” added Pivac.
“I do know he was a number one surgeon in an one other space of the physique. We’re doing every little thing in our energy and the choice has been taken.
“It isn’t a light-weight choice as a result of participant’s well being and wellbeing is on the forefront.
“That is why we go to specialists within the subject and provides all of them the knowledge.”
Captain Dan Biggar has backed Wales’ medical crew.
“The circus round it’s in all probability greater than what it’s [for] ourselves,” mentioned Biggar.
“We have a superb crew who will not be going to take pointless dangers and their first port of name is well being and security.
“As a result of it is a critical and an enormous challenge, it is all the time going to get a bit hyped.
“If Franny wasn’t proper to play, he would not be concerned.
“He is handed every little thing and been checked out by impartial individuals. We belief the method fully and get on with it.
“There’s going to be individuals who have opinions. So long as he goes by the protocols, I do not assume we must be making an excessive amount of extra of it.
“We’re not the specialists in these fields, that is not our occupation. It is very a lot ‘let’s transfer on from it’. He is been deemed match.”
Progressive Rugby has described the HIA course of as not match for objective however each Pivac and Biggar disagree.
“Main specialists have been concerned in placing these protocols in place,” mentioned Pivac.
“I feel they’re [fit for purpose] till they alter, as a result of they’re ones we’ve been working with for a while.”
Biggar added: “I can solely converse from private experiences, we’re effectively sorted.
“All of the gamers are more than pleased with the best way the system is and protocols are on the minute.
“We simply crack on with it and let different individuals kind these points out.”
