George Smith plays on

It was already a massive surprise that veteran openside George Smith forced his way into the Wallaby team to play the British Lions in the second test of the 2013 series.

Smith had been loaned to the Brumbies from his Japanese club for the last few weeks of Super Rugby and when he impressed, Wallaby coach Robbie Deans decided to select the 100- plus test flanker.

It was a big call and maybe emotion affected the thinking when Smith had a massive head collision with Lions hooker Richard Hibbard. When Smith eventually got to his feet, he staggered and was unable to walk unaided. He looked to be in a terrible state – concussed and not fit to continue.

Everyone could see the seriousness of the situation and no one was uncertain of the correct procedures and rules.

Because of his reaction he should have been stood down there and then. There was no need to go for the sidelines concussion test – but he did one anyway - and quite shockingly, he passed. “It obviously affected me,” Smith would say later. “You saw me snake dancing off the field. I passed the [ concussion] tests that were required within those five minutes and I got out there.”

It was a disgraceful decision to allow Smith to return to the field and truly, given the efforts made to improve attitudes and cultures towards head knocks, a horrible surprise.