Wales lock Bradley Davies has spoken for the first time since he was knocked out by New Zealand hooker Andrew Hore in Cardiff last Saturday.
The incident led to Hore receiving a five-game ban and coming under significant criticism throughout the rugby world for his actions.
Davies suffered a serious concussion and was taken to hospital, with the blow leading to the Cardiff Blues lock being unable to remember anything from the two days prior to the Test match and the day of the game itself.
"I felt very groggy for a while afterwards," said Davies to WalesOnline.
"My last memory before the game was last Wednesday and my mind has pretty much gone blank since then. I was in college doing a plumbing course and I cut my finger with a hacksaw. That was the last thing I can remember."
"I was actually only out cold for a couple of seconds on Saturday, but when I came to, I had lost all my short-term memory. That was strange because that had never happened to me before.
"I have been knocked out loads of time, but nothing like this has happened. It is not nice waking up and not knowing what has gone on. It also dented my pride a bit that I lasted less than a minute!
"After the game I was gone and I did not have a clue what was going on. Apparently I was asking the same question over and over again! On Sunday I was still a bit fragile and did not make much sense."
Davies is now eager to put the incident behind him, revealing that he has spoken to Hore who called Davies to apologise.
"It was a bit naughty, but he caught me a cracker and that is rugby," added Davies.
"I don't think he tried to knock me out. It is just one of those things. I got in his way and he caught me flush on the jaw.
"I know what he is going through because I got banned last season for seven weeks and missed the Six Nations and Grand Slam for a stupid off-the-ball incident in the opening match in Ireland.
"People ask you why you do it. But it is hard to explain and you can't answer them because you don't know yourself. I am not sure how they branded the ban because I had a 14-week suspension that was halved to seven which I thought was harsh at the time.
"But the incident has gone and I hold no grudges. He has called and texted me to apologise and I would like to leave it there."
"Hopefully I will be back next week, but I have to keep passing these knockout tests."
"It is tough enough when you are normal, never mind when you have had a bang on the head!
"There are all different questions and you have balance and do memory tests and recite the months of the year backwards. That is difficult enough when you are fine."
Comments
bigb6969 says...
yeah carpelone, being south african you'd know whats it like to be attacked
Posted 19:37 28th November 2012
golden_statenba says...
"But the incident has gone and I hold no grudges. He has called and texted me to apologise and I would like to leave it there."
Well said.
I truly hope there are no long term affects but he is right. This aint tiddlywinks and even if it was there is always a risk of a wink flicking you in the eye.
"My last memory before the game was last Wednesday and my mind has pretty much gone blank since then. I was in college doing a plumbing course and I cut my finger with a hacksaw. That was the last thing I can remember."
@BokAvenger In your opinion does the hacksaw have links to Paddy Steve and the IRB and if so what should the punishment be?
Posted 19:04 28th November 2012
carpelone says...
Gracious words. Get well soon. I know what it means to find yourself in a hospital bed all of a sudden. You can't even focus your sight for few days.
Posted 17:46 28th November 2012