All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi has spoken about the "scary" concussion he suffered a month ago while playing for the Chiefs, saying he does not remember the incident and regained consciousness only at the hospital.
Sititi, 23, was knocked out after colliding with Reds’ player Lukhan Salakaia-Loto's shoulder in an act of foul play before bouncing into teammate Sione Ahio as he carried the ball.
The freakish double head knock left Sititi shaking on the ground before he was taken off the field.
Footage showed him sitting up but he revealed today after training with the All Blacks at North Harbour Stadium that he was not fully conscious at the time.
His teammates were, not surprisingly, alarmed by the incident and he confirmed his mum and dad were also distressed by it.
“I sort of remember everything that happened right up until then,” Sititi said. “I don’t remember anything after that until coming to at the hospital. Obviously, it was pretty scary for myself and my family. I received a lot of love and support – I’m just grateful to everyone who reached out.”
It meant last Saturday’s Test against France had an extra edge for him and his family. Sititi, who admitted to extra nerves, came off the bench in the second half during the 34-32 victory in Christchurch in his first game since the incident.
That he could complete the Test at a high level in one of the most physical positions on the field speaks volumes for his powers of recovery and the faith he put in the medical staff.
“It’s not just the physical part, it’s the mental as well,” Sititi said. “I leant on my faith and prayed and asked for guidance. Last week wasn’t my best performance but I was just happy to be out there.”
Asked about Sititi’s comeback from his head injury, forwards coach Jason Ryan said: “It wasn’t nice, was it? It wasn’t very nice to see but he’s been tremendous.
“I know himself he’ll be feeling confident after getting one [Test] under his belt. Talking to him after the Test… he was stoked and probably mum and dad were too. It’s a high, physical contest that we play.”
Sititi said of his mum: “She didn’t want to watch another rugby game in a long time. I’m just happy to get through that game, I know that my mum will be relieved, that’s for sure.”
He confirmed he had watched replays of the incident.
“It was a scary moment but I think a part of moving on is to see what happened in the past and leave it there.”
There is no guarantee that Sititi will play for the All Blacks against Italy in Wellington on Saturday, such is the competition for places among the loose forwards, but the possibility of skipper Ardie Savea sitting out the Test before the crunch game against Ireland at Eden Park a week later could prise the door a little wider.
Sititi, Savea, Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Simon Parker and the uncapped Anton Segner are all in the mix.
“There’s a lot of competition going on – healthy competition, I think,” Sititi said. “It helps us – we’re a tight group. We push each other and, hopefully, we can bring the best out of each other.”
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