The Chiefs face a worrying wait over the fitness of star No.10 Damian McKenzie, who was forced off early in the second half of a thrilling Super Rugby opener against the Crusaders – while a new concussion protocol left an All Black shaking his head.
McKenzie was imperious before he appeared to suffer a hurt rib. He led the Chiefs to a 14-point halftime lead which was wiped out after he departed in the second and replaced by Josh Ioane.
There was a promising Crusaders debut for their No.10 Rivez Reihana before he too was forced off injured. There were more casualties in a frantic and hard fought season opener.
Quinn Tupaea, who missed the World Cup after being injured by Darcy Swain, and Perth-raised All Black Tamaiti Williams are also in doubt for next week; Williams appearing to hurt his hamstring after a 40 metre sprint.
DMac’s departure changed the game as the Chiefs control loosened.
“We made a couple of poor deciisons early on in the second half which took all our momentum away, Said winning coach Clayton McMillan. “We made errors which gifted them momentum and they were good enough to turn the tables.”
The Crusaders, with new coach Rob Penney at the helm, were outstanding in the second half to hit the lead, only to watch a big play from Etene Nanai-Seturo swing the momentum back the way of the home team.
Xavier Roe (l) and Quinn Tupaea (r) of the Chiefs celebrate with Etene Nanai-Seturo (c) of the Chiefs after he scored try. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Nanai-Seturo launched a booming 50-22 with five minute to go and the team down by two points. They rode that through to a penalty kick from right in front. Ioane added another right at the death to clinch the four-point win.
The game was the first in Super Rugby to include the use of smart mouthguards, which can detect a high-impact collision and lead to the the removal of a player from the field for a head injury assessment.
The have been made mandatory in elite competitions by World Rugby after studies and trials and this is part of a worldwide rollut.
Players have been concerned with the fit of the mouthguards – and two players were completely bemused by being subjected to HIAs on Friday.
Crusaders lock Quinten Strange was forced off in the 14th minute but the biggest impact was felt five minutes from time when Anton Lienert-Brown was hooked for a HIA to his complete bafflement.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said the mouthguards had been well discussed.
“The rules are pretty straightforward,” he said. “If somebody on the sideline sees an incident that’s worth having to look at then the player’s got to come off. He was pretty bit perplexed, not too sure why but that’s what we’re going to be seeing.”
scrum
Roar Rookie
The line is that the governing body takes a responsible approach to reduce the risk. As you say elimination is not possible , it’s about mitigating the risk as much as is possible. Because elimination is not possible does not justify doing nothing. We have a lot of road rules to mitigate accidents but there are still numerous deaths and accidents. So in that case drop all the road rules ??? Hardly.
The jackler
Roar Rookie
There is no rugby without risk of concussion. Full elimination of that risk means no game as we know it. So where is the line between acceptable risk and unacceptable?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yes absolutely lets give it a shot But I see the Scottish coach has also stated he is very weary of it and does not believe its genuinely ready for pro sport. It needs to work or we shouldnt use it.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Well it’s in for all elite comps including 6 nations, compulsory. For me trying to improve player safety is far more important than missing a player for 10 mins. Even if not perfect it’s worth the effort. There has been trialling prior so there must be some data on accuracy. I doubt it could ever be perfect and in matters such as this I doubt perfection is achievable. Let’s give it a chance rather than knee jerk reactions over the initial games.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
The Chiefs/Saders game was the first ever game done with these guards so it was the first ever time we could judge them and Im concerned about any team lose a game they shouldnt lose due to a technologly problem. Chiefs, ABs, Wallabies, Reds, etc, no team should lose due to incorrect technology. Player safety is fantastic but neither the Saders player or the Chiefs player had any idea why they were having to go off and no one tested concussed. I like the concept but it needs to be accurate and not effect the outcome of games. My thoughts are it needs more trialing to get it right before being used at pro level but lets see how they now adjust from this weekends games.
scrum
Roar Rookie
I doubt such contracts would stand up in court if the governing bodies are not taking measures to reduce risk. And are you handing carte Blanche to defenders to attack the head. And once a player has been seriously injured I doubt suing the culprit would hand much solace to the player or his families. You are suggesting the governing bodies introduce contracts that deliberately place players at higher levels of risk. Cannot see that being acceptable in any employment contract.
scrum
Roar Rookie
These mouth guards have been introduced for player safety, a lot of research and trials at lower levels including in NZ have taken place. There will probably be teething – excuse the pun- problems in the introduction . Are your issues primarily about the Chiefs being affected as opposed to taking a broader view on player safety. Both coaches post match had no complaints and accepted the need to introduce measures to improve player safety. If after time these mouth guards are proven to be unreliable I am sure their use will be reconsidered but there has been already considerable research.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
It’s not unacceptable and reckless if the player knowingly accepts the risk… the smart ?? WR lawyers need to draw up a bullet proof contract where players acknowledge the risk and accept it .. and can’t sue because of it. Could perhaps leave it open to sue players committing fouls that cause life threatening injuries.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
The issue is Scrum that not one person called off the field last night had concussion so yep safety is important but forcing players off the field when not injured or concussed is a concern. The Chiefs could easily have lost last night with ALB forced off and that would be wrong.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
I think they are required to wear it
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Burke will be the key. The player replacement started 2-3 years ago for the stars that have left.
whistleblower (retired)
Roar Rookie
Players will get used to the smart mouthguard (maybe it should be rebranded as a brainguard) as time goes on. There will be the usual facile rants from those who bleat that it is a physical contest and choose to look at the issue as only a player issue; they suggest that if a player says he is ok he should be allowed to continue. They are, unfortunately, too naive to understand that if these safety initiatives are not taken there will be no Rugby in 15-20 years; it will have been litigated out of existence. It would be interesting to know how RA’s insurance premium has escalated over the past few years – I suspect the rise has been exponential at a time when we all know cash is RA’s achilles heel. Nobody enjoys watching a big rib tickler more than me; I received many and gave a few – one way was good the other not so good lol. But we need to get used to this new norm.
scrum
Roar Rookie
It’s nothing to do with complicating the game. It’s about player safety, you may have noticed there are already various lawsuits over brain damage. WR has conducted a huge amount of research into this, the “ put your head in the sand” approach is simply unacceptable and reckless.
El Flash
Roar Rookie
The simple answer to the mouthguard screw up is simply take it out of your mouth & replace it with the one you played with last year. The Anton Leinert-Brown fiasco in the 75th minute could have seen the Chiefs lose simply because of a bluetooth screw up. The "teething" problems the manufacturers admit to are far worse than imagined. Good for a game ..... obviously, but not until they are 100% reliable. Currently they are way off the mark.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
TBH CUW, we mostly know how the Saders are usually slow starters but this current team will get better, especially when a few return from injury. Only a fool would underestimate any Sader squad! How many SR titles have they won again??
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Even at this early stage of the season & with more to come this weekend, this game was a ripper. It overshadowed the following games by a big margin
Barney
Roar Rookie
Players get a whack to head and don’t ‘feel’ it all that much doesn’t mean it hasn’t done any damage. Perhaps some fine tuning about extent needs to be done for sure, but it’s not going away and looking at some older players, it shouldn’t.
CUW
Roar Rookie
issue is not with the smart mouth guard - but with the current protocols. as it is any one going off for HIA is stood down for mandatory 10 minutes - even if he passes the testing. so in the current context - someone who could pass an onfield test ( think there were 4 questions like where is the match played , what day of week etc ) - is now taken off without that ans has to be out for 10!! this could become an issue - specially for teams that load their benches with forwards. say a couple of backs get injured - and are replaced from the bench! then another back is taken off like ALB for HIA!!! then the team has noone on bench as a back replacement - so need to send a forward. also knowing this - teams will have to term substitutions as tactical rather than injury - coz if injury those guys cannot come on again! today could have been that - as both QT and DM were injured and out of game - but chiefs had 3 backs on pine!! perhaps WR need to revisit this and reduce the stand down time - say 5 minutes - for those who pass HIA! it was interesting that Jordie got a heavy head on head with an eyebrow cut - but wasnt concussed :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
CUW
Roar Rookie
Crusaders will struggle without Mounga - their 10s are rookies and not in the same class. lost mainly with bad kicking - quite naive considering the Chiefs back 3 and DM. this Crusaders side is nothing compared to those of the past - which were more like all black selection XV!!! yet they gave chiefs a fright - and if not for that held up try by chiefs 9 - they will have won ! Chiefs will be worried - despite the bravado - a young team almost beat them and scored more trys - nothing to write home about. also their discipline floundered - remember the finals last time ? will be interesting to see how both develop over time - crusaders are notorious slow starters and chiefs have rubbish discipline! neither point seems changed at first hit out :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
The jackler
Roar Rookie
On one hand it’s great to see my Saders won’t be as easy to beat as some were hoping in this new era….on the other, can’t help but feel the mouthgard HIA thing is another overly judicious effort by WR to complicate the game and keep us talking about everything other than rugby.