Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has decried “online abuse” of Carlo Tizzano, after leaving him out of the third Test team to face the British and Irish Lions in Sydney on Saturday, and warned the flanker to avoid reading anything about the decisive second Test incident.
Tizzano was labelled a diver by fans and pundits in the aftermath of the key moment in the second match of the series in Melbourne last weekend.
He was knocked off the ball in a clean-out by Jac Morgan just before Hugo Keenan’s last-minute series-sealing try. Tizzano grabbed his head as he was forced off the ball and fell backwards, with rival supporters claiming he accentuated the contact.
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)
Experts joined punters in the pile on the Western Force flanker.
Former England player James Haskell claimed: “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.”
On Thursday, Schmidt opted for a 5-3 bench split, which left Tizzano surplus to requirements, but made it clear his distaste for the reaction to his player.
Tizzano was fit to be selected and did not suffer a concussion in the incident.
“He’s had a really tough week,” Schmidt said.
“He’s copped a lot of online abuse. The only thing I’d say in defence of Carlo is that there were just over 54 Gs of force that went directly through the neck, which is enough to cause serious injury – not to a rugby player who is as well conditioned as Carlo. He’s probably best left to take a deep breath.
“I think we are all aware of Newton’s third law: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When that force hits him, and the speed of his head collapsing down, he recoiled out the back of the ruck. I don’t think he wanted to recoil like that, but that’s the nature of force. That there is an equal and opposite reaction. For Carlo, it’s better that he sits this one out.”
Debate has raged over the incident since the game, and Schmidt was criticised by World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin for his post-match reaction to the incident, where he questioned the decision of referee Andrea Piardi and his team.
Australia head coach Joe Schmidt before the second test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Schmidt said he had told Tizzano to try avoid the commentary around his role in the second Test.
“We weren’t sure about him on Tuesday,” Schmidt said. “He was still pretty sore. He was great today. He was right back to the irrepressible character he is.
“I’ve advised Carlo to stay away from the media full stop, and the opinions that are out there. We’ve tried to just deal in the facts, the facts of what is law and what forces occur, and to let him know that we know what caused the equal and opposite reaction. We have faith in him and that will continue.”
