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Wallabies lock Darcy Swain was “devastated” over the impact his cleanout brain snap had on rival All Black Quinn Tupaea, according to teammate Allan Alaalatoa.
Swain faces the SANZAAR judiciary on Monday night having been cited for the incident in the first half of the All Blacks’ win in Melbourne.
Although Swain received a yellow card, the citing panel decided it met the threshold for a red.
While The Roar columnist Will Genia wrote that he felt Swain’s cleanout, which drove his shoulder through Tupaea’s leg causing knee ligament damage, looked intentional, Alaalatoa rejected the suggestion.
“Seeing him after the game, he was devastated,” said Alaalatoa. “I think he was he was more devastated for Quinn. There was no intention there to injure him the way that he did.
Darcy Swain of the Wallabies leaves the field after receiving a yellow card. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“I think we definitely as players – and some of his close mates – have just thrown an arm around him because he’s copping a fair bit on social media at the moment. We just want to make sure that mentally he’s doing all right. But I can tell that he was definitely devastated after the game for Quinn for what happened there.”
Genia said he felt Swain should receive a two game ban at the judiciary, while others – particularly across the ditch want him to be sidelined for longer.
Meanwhile, Alaalatoa said the team was working hard to bounce back from the shocking end to Thursday’s game.
“The boys are hurting,” he said. “Not only the boys but our staff was well and we just want to make sure that we channel that in the right direction. We’ve got to be clinical with the way that we play.
“We want to play smart as well. We’ve got to make sure that we nail all our detail, everyone does their job and on top of that you have that feeling as well.”
Rugby Australia have voiced their concerns with World Rugby over the controversial finish to Thursday night’s Bledisloe Cup match.
Referee Mathieu Raynal’s decision to award the All Blacks a scrum due to alleged time-wasting tactics from Bernard Foley has sparked uproar throughout the weekend – and RA are out to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
RA have sent a letter to the governing body outlining their concerns throughout the Wallabies’ loss in Melbourne, and in particular Raynal’s last-minute call that cost the home side a memorable victory.
It follows on from coach Dave Rennie’s call for an explanation in his post-match press conference.
Rugby Australia bosses are reportedly furious over the decision, and have made several verbal complaints to World Rugby officials in addition to the letter.
Wallabies forward Rob Leota suffered a long-term injury during the loss to the All Blacks on Thursday and faces around nine months on the sideline.
Leota became the second Wallabies player this campaign, after Quade Cooper, to suffer a ruptured Achilles. The injury was first declared as a calf injury in the immediate aftermath of the game but the Rebels confirmed the more serious nature of it on Monday.
Scans on Friday confirmed the rupture and Leota had surgery on Saturday.
Rebels GM of Rugby, Nick Stiles, said that while the setback was disappointing, the Rebels were confident Leota would return bigger and better as he looks to push for World Cup selection in 2023.
“Rob’s injury is obviously really disappointing for everyone at the club, especially after the excitement in having two local boys playing in a Melbourne Bledisloe Test,” said Stiles in a statement.
“Rob is a consummate professional with his training and recovery and someone who is a high character individual, so I have no doubt he’s going to attack his rehabilitation to the best of his ability.
“We were honoured to share last week’s Bledisloe build up with his parents and feel their passion, pride and love for their son.
“As a club, we’re going to do everything we can to provide the same support for Rob during his rehabilitiation process and make sure he comes out from this bigger and better.”
All Blacks legends have urged Ian Foster to give code hopper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck a start against the Wallabies on Saturday after two significant midfield injuries.
With the Bledisloe Cup secured, former All Blacks John Kirwan, Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina want to see the former NRL star given the No.12 jersey for the match at Eden Park.
David Havili’s concussion and the serious knee injury to Quinn Tupaea have opened up a position in the All Blacks backline.
The common consensus is that Foster will start Jordie Barrett at 12 and reshuffle at No.15 but if he does that it means RTS is the fourth-choice in the position a year out from the World Cup.
“Often people will say, ‘Don’t mix things up’ but I think we need to do that,” said Muliaina on Sky Sports The Breakdown. “I think he’s been wanting to do that for a long time, get guys out on the field and get them to experience Test match footy.
“I still think we’ve got the players to be able to go out there and win and win well.”
Wilson said the selection of Tuivasa-Sheck at No. 12 would offer the least amount of disruption to the backline.
“I think Roger Tuivasa-Sheck needs to play in this Test match,” Wilson said.
“I’ve got concerns. We’re getting found out in regards to what’s happening on the outside, the links between our midfield and our outsides.
“There’s not enough talk for me that’s enabling guys to shift and guys are getting in some really bad angles.
“Will Jordan got found out, Caleb Clarke…bad angles because I don’t think there was enough communication, telling them where they needed to go. They were gambling.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in action during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Hutt Recreation Ground on July 12, 2022 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
“I honestly don’t have a problem, the more I’ve thought about him [Tuivasa-Sheck] starting at 12 in this test match because then we haven’t made any other changes.
“It’s just the one. The only thing is you’ve got to find some more distribution and a kicking game, which David Havili was adding.“
“I don’t think he will start Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at No 12 … [but] I would like to see that,” Kirwan said.
“Just throw him in at the deep end. We’ve got the cup in the cupboard, the Bledisloe Cup.
“We want to win the [Rugby] Championship but if you’re thinking about World Cup, I’d like to see Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have a start.
“…I think the biggest decision is what you do with Jordie Barrett, because then you change a whole backline…Will [Jordan] the fullback, what are you going to do on the wing?
“I think there are a couple of structural things in defence that we need to look at as well. Our outside-in defence has let us down across the Championship.
“But we’ve got the cup, play Roger.”