Ireland defend Sexton selection

Ireland coach Andy Farrell says captain Johnny Sexton is ‘‘as bright as a button’’ and fit to play against the All Blacks in the second test in Dunedin tonight, but a player welfare group has questioned his selection.

Sexton took a knock on the head against the All Blacks at Eden Park, failed his in-game HIA1 (Head Injury Assessment] and was subsequently removed from the first test.

However, he then passed his HIA 2 and HIA 3 and was cleared to play against the All Blacks tonight, in line with World Rugby concussion protocols.

Farrell said that showed Sexton’s head knock ‘‘wasn’t concussion’’ and he was therefore fully fit and available to play.

‘‘It’s never a no brainer when you’ve got to go through a process,’’ Farrell said of Sexton’s selection.

‘‘We always as medics and coaching staff and players alike, we always err on the side of caution first and foremost and go through the right process.

‘‘The process was passed and he’s he’s fit to play.

‘‘He’s bright as a button and he has been all week. It wasn’t concussion and we move on with the rules and as I said, the only thing that matters is the health of the player, and we’ve certainly done that this week.’’

The HIA is World Rugby’s threestep process to identifying a concussion.

The in-game HIA 1 identifies a suspected concussion, which leads to a player being removed from a game.

But a failed HIA 1 is only officially recognised as a concussion if a player fails a more substantive HIA 2 after the match and the HIA 3, which takes place between 36-48 hours later.

In Sexton’s case, he passed both his HIA 2 and HIA 3 and was therefore not deemed as concussed.

However, lobby group Progressive Rugby, whose members include former players and medical professionals, was critical of Sexton’s selection and said that the ‘‘the HIA is being exposed’’.

‘‘Elite players who fail an in-game HIA1 have, by definition, displayed cognitive dysfunction requiring their removal,’’ Progressive Rugby said in a statement.

‘‘In our view, this is sufficient evidence, regardless of subsequent testing, to exercise extreme caution for the good of both their short and long-term health.’’