The Rugby Championship
SANZAR trials concussion test
ESPN Staff
August 24, 2012
The Sharks' Jannie du Plessis displays some battle scars, Crusaders v Sharks, Super Rugby Qualifier, Trafalgar Park, Nelson, New Zealand, June 25, 2011
Jannie du Plessis was an early recipient of the PSCA © Getty Images
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Saturday's Rugby Championship matches saw the introduction of the Pitch Side Concussion Assessment (PSCA) for the first time in a Test match.

Wallabies second-row Sitaleki Timani and Boks prop Jannie du Plessis were both taken from the field to allow the PSCA to be applied to them. The assessment seeks to establish whether the player is concussed and operates over a five minute period.

SANZAR CEO Greg Peters was pleased with the outcome of the protocols saying: "With individuals allowed to be assessed if they are believed to have concussion, The Rugby Championship can better safeguard its players.

"We are delighted that they have been successfully applied in the first instance with Sitaleki and Jannie both taken from the field as a precaution."

Both players passed the test with Timani labelling the procedure "a good thing to bring that into the game because you can't really tell if you can carry on playing when you've got concussion."

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