Carlo Tizzano Faces Online Abuse: Wallabies Coach Joe Schmidt Speaks Out

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt addresses the online abuse aimed at Carlo Tizzano after a controversial Test match against the British and Irish Lions.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has revealed that Carlo Tizzano has been the target of 'online abuse' following the dramatic conclusion to the second Test against the British and Irish Lions. Schmidt faced reporters on Thursday afternoon in Sydney, having named his team for the third and final Test at Accor Stadium this weekend.

The Controversial Finish

The Wallabies have made three injury-forced changes, while scrum-half Nic White has been granted a Test swansong after announcing his international retirement. But Thursday's press conference eventually returned to last Saturday's controversial finish, when Lions replacement Jac Morgan was cleared of a dangerous clean-out on Tizzano, seeing Hugo Keenan's match-winner stand and the visitors claim a 29-26 victory and an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Schmidt's Defense of Tizzano

Tizzano reeled out of Morgan's clean-out, but his action in doing so drew accusations he had feigned injury, with former England back-rower James Haskell even suggesting Tizzano's actions were 'utter crap' and that he should have been 'red carded' for 'diving'. But Schmidt defended his back-rower on Thursday, revealing that the contact had not amounted to a concussion but that it had left Tizzano a little worse for wear.

The Science Behind the Incident

'He's had a really tough week obviously, Carlo, he's copped a lot of online abuse,' Schmidt said. 'The only thing I'd say about Carlo and the defence of Carlo, there were just over 54 G's of force, direct force that went through the neck, along with almost 2200 rads [radians] of rotational force, which is enough to cause a serious injury, not to a rugby player who's as well conditioned as Carlo, but he's probably best just left to take a deep breath.'

Moving Forward

Schmidt said it had been left to other players to report Tizzano's head space to management. 'No, it's more come from other players. I've advised Carlo to stay away from the media, full-stop, and the opinions that are out there, because we've tried to just deal in the facts.'

World Rugby's Role

Schmidt did not discuss where the review with World Rugby was at, but did say any findings would remain private. He did however provide some thoughts on the Lions' first try of the second Test, where hooker Dan Sheehan dived over Wallabies defenders Dave Porecki and James Slipper, who had both gone in to execute a low tackle.

Preparing for the Next Match

Schmidt said Australia had workshopped a couple of solutions should the Lions try and repeat the play in Sydney this weekend. 'I mean we can't reveal the content of those discussions, so we're just preparing as best we can,' Schmidt said. 'With regard to that, probably the frustration is that there's a guy offside when they tap it, and it would have been great if they'd just come back and played the scrum and maybe had a chance for us to clarify, is that dangerous play or is that acceptable?'

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