First it was “this is a rugby incident”. Then it was Jac Morgan’s “technique was perfect”.
When one pointed out that the laws don’t refer to “rugby incidents” and that “perfect technique” still constitutes an infringement if high contact is made, the argument quickly moved to “it wasn’t even high”.
Quite simply, the north isn’t interested in what the laws actually say on this occasion: anywhere above the shoulder didn’t suit the narrative it seems, couldn’t possibly be allowed to cost the Lions a Test match.
Anyway, the ‘it wasn’t even high’ argument falls apart given the game was recorded. We all saw what we saw.
But the damage was done, the door had been opened by people who should know better to an atrocious personal attack on Carlo Tizzano led by James Haskell.
“Honestly, I never get that passionate about stuff, but I could not believe from every fibre of my being that it was even a thing,” said Haskell on a podcast on Tuesday.
“Only bit of foul play and nonsense in that incident was the Australian player diving. That should have been red-carded because that is utter crap.”
It’s ironic given that Tizzano is one of the hardest, most competitive backrowers you’ll find, unlike Haskell, who was all meat and no potatoes.
Tizzano unlike every other interested party, actually had his head over the ball. He knows better than most that “this isn’t soccer” but that catchphrase has been used relentlessly to sully his reputation.
Morgan who weighs over 100kg by the way, hit Tizzano hard at the base of his neck at speed. He was folded over.
Whether he rubbed his neck or held his head, at least he didn’t go off in a neck brace or attached to a spinal board. Maybe that’s what it would have taken in this instance?
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 26: Carlo Tizzano of the Wallabies receives medical attention following a contest in the final moments of the second test of the series between Australia Wallabies and British & Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 26, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
It is revealing that the British and Irish press and bloggers now seem to be introducing a new argument: that Tizzano came in from the side. Given he was the first to arrive at the tackled player and the ruck hadn’t been formed yet, it’s an odd argument.
Conveniently, that argument ignores the ensuing foul play but also the question of whether Morgan himself left his feet or planted his left hand in the ground to support his body weight.
Nobody in the north wants to talk about the other two infringements Morgan committed during his ‘text book clean out’.
The hypocrisy and double standards coming out of the Four Nations is appalling and quite frankly more “soccer” than anything Tizzano produced on Saturday night.
If Morgan was wearing, say a Wales jersey at Twickenham, the 17 replays on the big screen would have had the crowd baying for a card. Nine times out of ten, it’d be at least a penalty, but quite clearly the laws only apply selectively.
It would be very easy for World Rugby to come out and clarify if in fact this incident amounted to foul play wouldn’t it?
The argument that they shouldn’t clarify individual incidents is a poor one.
Aside from the magnitude of this moment in a once-in-12-year Test match, every week we see the laws clarified and precedents set as players are held accountable for misjudged moments. Why not referees?
In this case, a referee who otherwise had a pretty good game, failed to slowly and methodically apply the laws, leading to an error, albeit one made under an enormous amount of pressure and with poor advice from the TMO.
Examining how the officials erred or whether in fact they even did is surely the first step in creating a high-performance environment befitting of an international game.
World Rugby needs to keep a lid on the fury and uncertainty this decision has created in the game, with opinion split largely across hemisphere lines.
The rules, however unplayable, however different to 10 years ago when Haskell played are there in black and white. Selectively enforcing them does incalculable damage and further opens the door for a split in the game.
One last thing, Jac Morgan is a great player, he looks to be a wonderful ambassador. But so was Sam Cane.
