The Western Force have lodged an official complaint about their treatment in Super Rugby as fallout from Lachlan Swinton’s season-ending ban continues.
Force chief executive Tony Lewis has written to Rugby Australia and SANZAAR claiming Swinton’s overlooked dangerous tackle on their five-eighth was just the latest in a line of unreasonable refereeing calls against his side.
Lewis would not comment further when contacted by the Herald, but confirmed he had sent an email to both organisations.
Television match official David Conway missed the weekend incident, a late and dangerous hit on Jake Strachan in the first minute of the match despite having nine different camera angles at his disposal. Neither of the two assistant referees, nor on-field referee Angus Gardner, saw the incident.
Strachan was treated by the match-day doctor but passed the HIA and was allowed to return a short time later. He was treated again at half-time and did not return after the break. The Force lost 36-16.
RA reviewed the incident but issued no official sanction for the match officials. Conway, however, is not on the match officials’ roster for this weekend’s games.
Lachie Swinton at the Wallabies camp.Credit: Getty
It was a timely warning for the new Wallabies regime, as Eddie Jones’ first camp broke up and players returned to their Super Rugby clubs. Australia was the most penalised Test nation last year, conceding an average of 13.9 penalties in 14 Tests, and picking up 14 yellow cards and one red card. Swinton was shown a red card on debut against the All Blacks in 2020.
Jones has recruited former NRL player Brett Hodgson to coach defence for the Wallabies. The former Parramatta and Wests Tigers fullback said working harder would help the team change their woeful record.
“Discipline can mean giving away offside penalties, so working that little bit harder to get onside, [or] working that little bit harder to get in position, so you’re not having to lunge to make a tackle and then hitting someone high,” Hodgson said.
“There’s a number of key areas and there are decisions to be made on the rugby pitch, and sometimes you get that wrong. We’ll be working as a group to make sure we’re not giving away too many penalties.”
Eddie Jones with Wallabies players and coaches at Sanctuary Cove.Credit: Getty
Swinton, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle to make another Wallabies squad. The ban rules him out for the rest of the regular season with the Waratahs, meaning he can mount a case for selection only if the Waratahs make the finals, or from the Shute Shield with his club, Sydney University. Jones has made it clear he wants players playing rugby to consider them for selection.
Hodgson said the line between intensity and foul play came down to technique.
“It’s important that you do have intensity, but it has to be controlled,” he said. “The way you control that is with your technique. Making sure you’re getting off the line in the right manner and, again, footwork into contact to not go lunging and making mistakes by tackling someone high.
“There are elements within our defensive system that involve connection as a group, and that’s what we’ll be working hard on.”
In good news for Super Rugby franchises, all the players returned to their clubs injury free. Hodgson said it was an intense but productive three days.
“I knew there’d be some elite talent, which is why they’re here,” he said of the players. “Their willingness to adapt has been outstanding. From a coaching perspective, I don’t think we could have asked for much more.”
