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'Disgusting' - Anger as Darcy Swain escapes red for 'woeful' clearout
By Ian Cameron
Wallabies lock Darcy Swain can consider himself very to lucky to avoid a red card for a brutal clearout in the first Bledisloe Test in Melbourne – that’s according to many on social media.
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Swain was shown a yellow card by referee Matthieu Raynal after TMO Ben Whitehouse picked him up for targeting the leg of All Blacks centre Quinn Quinn Tupaea at a ruck near the Wallabies try line. The All Black was left screaming in pain after his knee looked to be hyper-extended laterally by the hit.
Swain – who was red carded during the July tour with England for an attempted headbutt on England’s Jonny Hill – was sent to the sin bin, while Tapaea hobbled off with the help of medical staff in clear discomfort.
Darcy Swain gets a ? for 'targetting the lower limb' of Quinn Tupaea.
Expect a citing on this one ? #AUSvNZ | #RugbyChampionship #Bledisloe | Credit: @StanSportRugby https://t.co/3E1qhDC0mo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 15, 2022
The anger was palpable on Twitter. Former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton wrote: “I don’t normally post shit like this but this young lad needs to check himself.”
I don’t normally post shit like this but this young lad needs to check himself.
— Jim Hamilton (Vice Captain) (@jimhamilton4) September 15, 2022
Former England flyhalf Andy Goode wrote: “Here’s the woeful clearout from Darcy Swain targeting the knee/lower leg of Quinn Tupaea. Shocking and a red card all day long” and applauded TMO Ben Whitehouse for spotting it; “Great call from Ben Whitehouse the TMO on calling out the clear out by Darcy Swain targeting the leg/knee of Quinn Tupaea who’s now hobbled off injured. Should have been a red card not a yellow though”.
Here’s the woeful clearout from Darcy Swain targeting the knee/lower leg of Quinn Tupaea. Shocking and a red card all day long #AusvNZ https://t.co/8dbNbBmLc4
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) September 15, 2022
New Zealand journalist Mark Stafford wrote: “If either political party has a policy to crack down on Darcy Swain they’ve got my vote.”
If either political party has a policy to crack down on Darcy Swain they’ve got my vote. #AusvNZ
— Mark Stafford (@stafnz) September 15, 2022
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“A yellow card is not a suitable punishment for what Darcy Swain did there,” wrote one fan. “Blatant targetting of a players knee leading to an injury. Should be a red card followed by a lengthy suspension.”
A yellow card is not a suitable punishment for what Darcy Swain did there. Blatant targetting of a players knee leading to an injury. Should be a red card followed by a lengthy suspension. #AUSvNZL
— Jordan Patu (@Jordan_Patu) September 15, 2022
Another fan ironically noted the seeming inequity of rugby union’s card system: “Darcy Swain gets a yellow card for deliberate targeting Quinn Tupaea’s knee (possibly ruining his ACL) – the same punishment you get for an unsuccessful intercept.”
Darcy Swain gets a yellow card for deliberate targeting Quinn Tupaea’s knee (possibly ruining his ACL) – the same punishment you get for an unsuccessful intercept.
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) September 15, 2022
Quinn Tupaea clearly devastated as he hobbles off after a dangerous clearout #AUSvNZL pic.twitter.com/IXfEfjX9Eg
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 15, 2022
Another angry Tweeter wrote: “Accidental head clash: red. Fine, I can accept that. Darcy Swain tries to end a man’s season and potentially his career: take ten minutes in the bin, son.”
Accidental head clash: red. Fine, I can accept that. Darcy Swain tries to end a man's season and potentially his career: take ten minutes in the bin, son.
— Darrel Bristow-Bovey (@dbbovey) September 15, 2022
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While it was only a yellow card, it is highly likely that Swain will be cited and banned for the reckless challenge.
intresting how it wasnt a red card at least he has been sighted for his actions
Swain clearly hooks Tupaea's lower leg, just before be hits him mid way up the shin, from the side. I would like to see him explain how that couldn't result in a horrendous injury.
He hooked the leg to lift it, if he wanted to injure him why would he bother hooking the leg?
He got injured because of the weight of the two other guys blowing him out got him trapped in there
What was disgusting was that last referee call on Foley. NZ won but they were the 2nd best team.
I think you need to get over yourself. the ref stopped the clock. Warned him. Restarted and his own team mates were yelling at him to take the kick. If he is that brainless that he disregards a clear instruction from the ref, so be it. By the way 5 x tries and Oz were the best team?. Oh what about Sam Whitelock choosing to miss the penalty that would have drawn it. He backed his boys. Agree it was a good game, but lets stop the incessant crying over spilt milk
The All Blacks gave Australia the chance to win when they turned down kicking a penalty to go for a win. The result would likely have been a draw. So in any normal game Aussie were deprived of a draw.
Foley shouldn’t have fakked about for 60 secs while the ref told him again and again to kick it. He was clearly trying to eat up as much of the 90 secs remaining as possible so that the ABs would not have a chance to regain possession. Unsportsmanlike play and against the laws. Now if only time wasting was punished more often…