All Black Sonny Bill Williams (R) shoulder charges Lions winger Anthony Watson. Photo: photosport
British and Irish Lions back Anthony Watson says he found a way to circumvent concussion testing after Sonny Bill Williams was shown a red card in a pivotal moment during the 2017 series.
Watson shone some light on the flashpoint incident early in the second test in Wellington, which the Lions went on to win 24-21 to level the series 1-1.
The tense series was ultimately squared after a 15-15 draw at Eden Park a week later.
In a BBC documentary focusing on concussion in sport, Watson revealed he cheated the head-injury assessment after suffering a heavy blow from a Williams shoulder charge.
Anthony Watson receives medical attention during the second test against the All Blacks in 2017. Photo: photosport
He appeared unsteady on his feet and admitted he was feeling hazy as he entered a room under the grandstand where testing was carried out.
Watson said he memorised a series of five words to pass a recall section of the test.
"At that stage I knew the protocols - they give you five words to remember, so it is 'elbow-apple-carpet-saddle-bubble'. That is what I had.
"I managed to get through the walking tests and all of that, and then when it came to the words, I knew it off by heart - so I knew I was going to get straight back on."
Watson finished the game, and also took the field for most of the Eden Park test.
Nowadays, the recall part of the assessment used a random sequence of words, rather than a set list.
Watson, who retired last year, told the BBC he had no regrets.
"That night I had a pretty mental headache.
"But if I could go back to then I wouldn't do anything different - it was the second Lions test. If I report a concussion there, I might rule myself out for next week and then wait four years to potentially do it again."
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