Wallabies duo rally around underfire Carlo Tizzano

Carlo Tizzano’s name has been in rugby headlines around the world over the last few days, after the Wallabies flanker was involved in a highly talked-about moment in the lead-up to Hugo Keenan’s series-winning try for the British & Irish Lions.

Australia held a slender two-point lead at the MCG when Tizzano attempted to pilfer the ball at the breakdown, only to be cleaned out of the play by the Welshman Jac Morgan, but the drama didn’t stop once Keenan had scored.

Keenan’s try in the final minute sent Lions fans into a euphoric state of celebration, but replays of the Tizzano-Morgan cleanout quickly became a hot topic of discussion. It was deemed that there was no foul play, with the try standing and the Lions crowned series champions.

Sharks CC coach JP Pietersen talks about integrating their U20s (online-video-cutter.com)

Sharks CC coach JP Pietersen talks about integrating their U20s (online-video-cutter.com)

Fans on social media had their passionate takes heard after full-time, with one user taking aim at Tizzano for “soccer like theatrics” and another believing the backrower “milks it” in an attempt to secure what would’ve been a series-saving penalty.

Tizzano has been the world’s most talked-about rugby player over recent days. While the openside flanker has yet had a chance to publicly speak about the incident, Wallabies teammate Max Jorgensen was full of praise for the “bloody tough player” on Monday.

“Carlo, he’s a very tough player. He puts himself in tough positions for us all the time,” Jorgensen told reporters in Sydney.

“Joe’s already come out and spoke about all that.

“As for Carlo, he’s a bloody tough player and he really puts himself in tough positions for us constantly throughout the game and week in, week out.”

Former England and Lions flanker James Haskell is among those who have criticised Tizzano for allegedly “diving” late in the second Test. Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, Haskel expressed a view that the Wallaby “should have been red carded.”

That said others have spoken favourably of Tizzano – including some former Wallabies – who put himself in a brave position after winning a breakdown penalty earlier in the second half.

The buildup to the third Lions Series Test got underway on Monday, with Jorgensen put up for media along with teammate Nick Frost. Frost was on the field when Keenan broke Wallaby hearts, but much like Jorgensen, the lock backed Tizzano.

“Carlo’s a competitor, like he always is, He’s trying to get the ball.. he’s there first and he gets hit pretty hard with a full force cleanout,” Frost said.

“It is what it is. We can’t do anything about a decision… we’re trying to compete for the ball there. Especially Carlo but a lot of the forwards put ourselves in harm’s way a lot of the time. It is tough on the body.

“It’s hard when you’ve got guys who aren’t on the field, I know they’re ex-players and different things but when the people are on the field day in, day out… especially a guy like Carlo who always gets over the ball,” he added when asked about Haskell.

“We don’t really listen too much to outside noise, whatever the media stays around that stuff, so it’s the first time we’ve heard of it or I’ve heard of it.

“It’s disappointing in general that this series is done for us.”