Wallabies hit back after Tizzano branded a diver

6 hours ago 6

Wallabies second-rower Nick Frost has defended teammate Carlo Tizzano’s character after the breakaway was accused of diving after being hit on the back of the neck by British and Irish Lion Jac Morgan.

Former England breakaway James Haskell said that Tizzano should have faced a red card for his actions after falling to the ground after Morgan’s clean out at the ruck on the 79th minute.

“The only bit of foul play and nonsense in the incident was the Australian player diving, that should have been red carded, because that is utter crap,” Haskell said on his The Good, the Bad and the Rugby podcast.

Frost backed Tizzano who he believed got to the ruck first ahead of Morgan, going against referee Andrea Piardi’s view that both players arrived at the same time, thus not awarding a penalty that would have won the game for the Wallabies in Melbourne.

“It’s tough, it’s hard when you’ve got guys who aren’t on the field, they’re ex-players and different things, but when the people who are on the field day in and day out and putting their body (on the line), especially a guy like Carlo who always gets over the ball, guys like that competing, it is tough,” Frost said.

“And then even in the tight five, you put your body in harm’s way. It’s a tough one for him (Tizzano).”

Carlo Tizzano of the Wallabies receives medical attention after the clash with Jac Morgan.

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh is seeking “a high level of accountability” from World Rugby after Piardi failed to award a match-defining penalty for Morgan’s clean out, with the Wallabies arguing the Lions player should have been penalised for breaching Law 9.20, which prohibits contact above the shoulders at a ruck.

Conversely, RA’s senior coach within the national pathways systems Simon Raiwalui appeared to back Morgan’s clean out on X.

“I don’t think the officials even look at action if he doesn’t dive backwards and hold his head? Gutted as a Wallabies supporter, but I thought Morgan’s technique was brilliant considering Tizzano’s head is well below his hips at the point of contact…just my opinion.”

On Monday, talking to gathered media Max Jorgensen and Nick Frost said a variation of the word ‘devastation’ six times in twenty minutes, summing up the mood in the camp.

The Wallabies fight to avoid the first Lions’ whitewash since 1904 on Saturday in Sydney could get even tougher with tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa likely to miss the final Test with a shoulder injury.

If Alaalatoa is ruled unfit, it could open the door for Taniela Tupou to return for the Wallabies in Sydney after impressing last Tuesday for the First Nations and Pasifika team against the Lions.

The Wallabies will also be left to sweat on the fitness of loosehead prop James Slipper and breakaway Rob Valetini ahead of Saturday.

Carlo Tizzano and Jac Morgan collide at the breakdown.

Jorgensen is only 20 years old and has had an outstanding Lions series, but the feeling of missing out on a series decider against the Lions is still lingering for the talented winger.

“It really hurts, it’s a really tough pill to swallow...it’s something you only do once in your career unless you’re ‘Slips’ (James Slipper),” Jorgensen said.

“I was absolutely gutted personally. I know everyone in the team was, to have to wait another 12 years to have the chance of getting a series win is obviously devastating.”

Nick Frost taps down a lineout at the MCG.

At the end of the game at the MCG, Schmidt and his captain Harry Wilson were forced to listen to the Lions singing celebration songs as they completed their post-match press conference next to the visitors changing rooms.

Jorgensen and his teammates watched the series winners conduct a lap of honour around one of Australia’s most iconic sporting venues.

The winger understood that the Wallabies had numerous chances to stay in the series and he had only one word to describe his lingering disappointment at what could have been for his team.

“I think it’s just the same word I’ve used all day, it’s devastating to see that (celebration), you look at it and you go what could have been a decider this weekend, how different it could have been,” Jorgensen said.

All matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.