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France take aim at Wales in Rugby World Cup concussion saga

Andrew Reid

France coach Jacques Brunel has expressed his surprise at the presence of Dan Biggar in Wales' lineup for the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match on Sunday after the flyhalf sustained two nasty head knocks during the pool stage.

The Welsh Rugby Union insisted Friday that Biggar has been symptom-free since his accidental collision with teammate Liam Williams in the win over Fiji more than a week ago which left Biggar motionless on the ground before he was taken off the field.

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Earlier in the competition, Biggar had to leave the field after a head injury against Australia.

"In the French championship, two concussions is three weeks out," Brunel said.

The France coach went on to add that if the Rugby World Cup followed the rules of France's Top 14 league, Biggar "could not play" in the blockbuster quarter-final.

France coach Jacques Brunel doesn't think Wales playmaker Dan Biggar should be playing his side.
France's coach doubts whether Dan Biggar should have been passed fit to play. Pic: Getty

Many fans agreed with the French coach, with Biggar's imminent return to the Welsh side proving divisive in the rugby world.

Wales coach Warren Gatland insisted, however, that Biggar had gone through all the return-to-play protocols and that Wales had taken "all the proper precautions."

"We made sure in terms of consulting the right people and making sure they were aware of everything, getting him scanned, (the) independent consultant — that was important," Gatland said at a news conference held a few hours before Brunel spoke.

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"We feel we've gone through that due diligence and made sure we've covered all the bases. He's done all the protocols and been fit for three or four days in terms of having passed those."

Concerns remain over Biggar’s wellbeing

Gatland did, however, concede extra caution will have to be taken with Biggar should he sustain another head injury.

"He's desperate to play," Gatland added.

"We've just got to make sure if it does happen, if he gets a knock in the next few games, the next couple of months, obviously there would probably be a different course of action."

Dan Biggar is attended to by medical staff after a nasty collision with a Wales teammate. Pic: Getty
Dan Biggar has suffered two nasty head knocks in his previous two games. Pic: Getty

Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones has also been selected and will join Brian O'Driscoll in third on the all-time list for international Test appearances with his 141st cap.

"It's one chance to stay or you know where you are going," he said of Wales' ambitions for Sunday's clash.

"It's funny because the planning for this has probably been in Warren's head for the last 10 years rather than the last four years, two years, or 18 months.

"He is constantly building and what we have achieved or have not comes down to this moment."

Wales has previous history about a player coming back too early from concussion, something to which Gatland made reference on Friday.

George North, who plays on the wing for Wales, had five months out in 2015 after being told to rest by doctors following four concussions in four months in the 2014-15 season. A friend of North said the player's speech was affected.

Rugby has tightened its rules in recent years regarding the recognition and treatment of concussions.

With agencies