Jonny tight lips wrote: ↑December 27th, 2020, 9:44 am
Ruckedtobits wrote: ↑December 27th, 2020, 7:45 am
@Blueberry got closest with his first para. 110,000 tests done this week and huge pressure on results from HSE on all PCR testing venues to prioritise HSE results over private Tests, paricularly because of the variant.
Pro14 has black and white protocol about dates and times for Test results submission with no flexibility on delivery times. Otherwise, precedents would erode the protocol.
The fact that we got back negatives is irrelevant, because we had a confirmed postponement by that time.
We had substitutes named internally and submitted to Pro14 (you have to name who has been tested and confirm the results for named players). All theories that we couldn't field a Squad and wanted postponement are wide of the mark.
I think the query would be around the “black and white protocols” in reality in all industry’s deviate from internal and regulatory specifications/ protocols if required to with authorisation from senior management which is why senior management are there. The game could of been put to an “at risk” status and all stakeholders informed that results were pending and due in later or the game could very easily if been out back on after postponement. The Pro14 could have been told we were making a planned deviation from the protocol. If there was the will to play this game it could of been played.
If we accept the game could have been we could update the protocol or have a strategy in place to deviate from it should the need arise. The reality is that with pressure increasing on our testing infrastructure this may happen again be it through the lab loosing sample, generating invalids due to technician error or an instrument failure or any number of issues. This testing will be needed for a while so let’s see what lessons can be learned from this instead of saying ahh we had to follow a set timeline we decided on months ago
Imagine for a moment.
Protocols agreed with by 5 Governments\Regional Assemblies\Executives, 5 separate health Authorities, 4 different Sporting Associations and 12 individual clubs and 1 Administrating Organisation are changed last minute. Can you see all those involved agreeing to change the agreed protocols?
Now add the new variants into the mix.
Now add in the fact Leinster played an English team located just over an hour up the road from London 5 days previously.
Now add in 1000 confirmed cases a day in this country in the few days before the match.
Now add in the fact that the country was to go into Lock Down on the day of the proposed match.
Still think it was as simple as you make out to deviate from the protocols?
What would the optics be to the other sporting organisations in the country or to Joe/Josephine Public when Rugby can break the agreed rules?
Now imagine that there was an outbreak of Covid among both teams linked to the match. How would that look to the public and imagine the reaction of the press. Imagine Gavin Cummiskey being so excited he could burst slagging off the PRO 14 organisation and the IRFU.
This is surely possible because as you said
'The reality is that with pressure increasing on our testing infrastructure this may happen again be it through the lab loosing sample, generating invalids due to technician error or an instrument failure or any number of issues.'
This could mean Positive tests being returned Negative. I think this is a risk we have to take and may happen. But if it happened at a match where Agreed Protocols were broken imagine the excrement hitting the fan.
Would it be a large leap to see ALL Rugby stopped in Ireland? In my opinion the GAA cancelled all County Championships because they knew they were in trouble with outbreaks linked to celebrating County Finals (eg. 25 lads drinking out of one cup). They knew the optics were bad and sacrificed the County Championships to get the All Ireland played. Rugby has nothing to sacrifice other than the Professional game.
Now I was as disappointed as the next person at the postponement but I can see the rationale for the decision. There are much bigger things at stake than just one rugby match.
Treat life like a dog: If you can't eat it, play with it, or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!