Darcy Swain – the Wallabies second-row replacement – faces a lengthy ban unless he can successfully overturn his citing for a “reckless and dangerous” effort at a breakdown late in the first half of their Bledisloe I loss to the All Blacks.
The 25-year-old was shown a yellow card for the incident, which left All Blacks replacement back Quinn Tupaea with a season-ending MCL injury.
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After the Test, All Blacks coach Ian Foster said he had a “big issue” with the incident, with it initially believed Tupaea had suffered an ACL injury which would keep him out for an estimated nine months.
“We’ve got a player who’s probably out for nine months and you’re not allowed to target legs on the side at clean-out past the ball,” Foster said in his post-match press conference last Thursday.
“The rules are pretty clear.”
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, on first viewing at least, disagreed the incident was a yellow card.
“I’m not convinced about Darcy Swain’s,” Rennie said.
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“It was certainly nothing intentional; ironically, he got neck-rolled prior to him cleaning out but that wasn’t picked up.”
The game’s most capped referee Nigel Owens believed the incident was worthy of a red card, but added it was important referees did not officiate on the outcome of incidents.
“Forgot the outcome of this, it is a careless clear-out and it could warrant a red card in itself and whether he deliberately targets that area, he does target that area which is something World Rugby have asked referees to clamp down on, and this could well warrant a red card,” Owens told foxsports.com.au.
“It is a tricky one, there will be a lot of arguments that a yellow card is sufficient.
“There’ll also be justified arguments that a red card would be justified as well, particularly on the outcome of it. But you’ve got to be very careful that you’re not always basing your decisions on an outcome.”
Swain, who was red carded for a headbutt in the first Test of the season against England, faces a long spell on the sidelines unless he can convince the SANZAAR judicial hearing on Wednesday it was not worthy of a red card.
Given he has not accepted the early guilty plea, it is likely the 16-capped second-row will challenge the ruling.
But given his prior history, as well as the season-ending injury to Tupaea, it is quite possible the entry level for the incident could be deemed mid-entry, thereby meaning he faces a long suspension and putting his participation on the Wallabies’ five-match Spring Tour at risk.
The Wallabies will likely argue the attempted clean-out was merely a rugby incident.
Footage from a clean-out in the 72nd minute showed Fletcher Newell also coming in from the side and putting his weight on Scott Sio’s legs.
The Wallabies prop fell backwards but came away from the incident unscathed.
With Rob Leota suffering a ruptured Achilles from the 39-37 loss, the Wallabies will make at least two changes to their forward pack.
Rennie has two options to cover Leota’s injury.
Most likely he will shift Jed Holloway to blindside flanker and recall Cadeyrn Neville to the second-row.
Alternatively he could shift Pete Samu to blindside flanker and promote Fraser McReight to provide some extra breakdown presence, after the All Blacks dominated the area.
But the concern of starting McReight alongside Samu would be the All Blacks’ pack is only going to be more physical by Ardie Savea’s return to the side.
