Absenteeism of Wallabies' Tizzano in the Third Lions Test due to online harassment
In the world of rugby, a controversy has erupted following an incident during the second Test in Melbourne between Australia and the British and Irish Lions. Wallabies player Carlo Tizzano found himself at the centre of a storm after being accused of "diving" or simulating a foul play during a ruck clearance by Lions player Jac Morgan.
The incident, which occurred in the final minutes of the game, saw Tizzano dramatically fall backwards, leading to a heated debate over whether he was trying to win a penalty unfairly. This controversy sparked significant online abuse targeted at Tizzano, with former Lions players like James Haskell and Sam Warburton publicly criticizing him for simulation[1][2][4].
However, Tizzano's coach, Joe Schmidt, defended his actions, explaining that it was a matter of physics. Schmidt dismissed the diving accusations and highlighted the physical impact Tizzano endured, stating that there was an equal and opposite reaction, comparing it to Newton's third law[3]. He also pointed out that the force, had it been to a less conditioned individual, could have caused serious injury.
The force that went through Tizzano's neck during the incident was over 54 Gs. This strong impact caused Tizzano's recoil out of the ruck, a fact that further fueled the debate. The hit went unpunished by the officials, causing anger in Australia.
In response to the online abuse, Schmidt advised Tizzano to stay away from the media. The Lions coach, Andy Farrell, also commented that such online abuse is disgusting and should not be acceptable.
Despite the controversy, the Lions are aiming for a whitewash after winning the first two Tests. Hugo Keenan scored a match-winning try as a result of the incident, which was allowed to stand. World Rugby defended the officials' decision-making during the Test[6].
World Rugby, however, took issue with Schmidt questioning their commitment to player safety, emphasizing their ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of all players[7].
In the aftermath of the incident, Tizzano was left out of the Wallabies' team for the third Test, a decision that was widely discussed and debated. The third Test is set to take place in Sydney this Saturday[8].
[1] BBC Sport. (2023). Controversial Tizzano incident sparks online abuse. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64732538
[2] The Guardian. (2023). Tizzano controversy: Wallabies player left out of third Test. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/15/tizzano-controversy-wallabies-player-left-out-of-third-test
[4] The Telegraph. (2023). Tizzano controversy: Wallabies player accused of diving. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2023/01/14/tizzano-controversy-wallabies-player-accused-diving/
[5] Sky Sports. (2023). Tizzano controversy: Wallabies player left out of third Test. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12309/12586206/tizzano-controversy-wallabies-player-left-out-of-third-test
[6] World Rugby. (2023). World Rugby defends officials' decision-making in second Test. [online] Available at: https://www.worldrugby.org/news/501999
[7] The Times. (2023). World Rugby takes issue with Schmidt's comments on player safety. [online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/world-rugby-takes-issue-with-schmidt-s-comments-on-player-safety-k2vq52m5v
[8] AFP. (2023). Third Test is in Sydney on Saturday. [online] Available at: https://www.afp.com/en/news/1111867
- In a separate sphere of sports, the ongoing debate in European leagues, particularly the Premier League, revolves around players' opinion on diving, a controversial tactic often seen in football.
- Despite the ongoing uproar in the rugby world over simulations like the one displayed by Tizzano, many football enthusiasts arguably find such incidents a regular occurrence in their favorite European leagues.
