Warburton Slams Tizzano’s ‘Meal’ of Breakdown Incident

Lions legend defends Jac Morgan’s clear-out amidst fiery debate

Two-time British and Irish Lions tour captain **Sam Warburton** has weighed into the controversial late-game clear-out involving **Jac Morgan** and **Carlo Tizzano** in Melbourne, stating the Wallabies player “made a real meal of it.” The incident, occurring in the lead-up to the match-winning try for the Lions’ 29-26 victory and series clincher, has ignited a fierce debate.

Debate Intensifies Over Breakdown Contention

Wallabies coach **Joe Schmidt** fuelled the controversy by referencing law 9:20, which prohibits contact above the shoulder line. This has led to a partisan split in opinions, heavily influenced by team allegiance.

Wayne Barnes wades into the heated debate over Jac Morgan’s Lions clear-out of Carlo Tizzano https://t.co/8n3hJ8Nxts

— Planet Rugby (@planetrugby) July 13, 2024

However, **Warburton**, drawing on his extensive experience as a former Lions back-rower and skipper, offered a starkly different perspective in his latest column for The Times.

Warburton Defends Morgan’s Action

The former Wales captain expressed his bemusement at the outcry, suggesting that the Australians’ desperation in losing a lead at the death might be influencing the reaction. He observed that contact to the head or neck is commonplace in rugby, often occurring in one in every two rucks.

“It is under the microscope because of when it happened, at the final ruck before the try was scored, and Tizzano made a real meal of it, something I really don’t like. I appreciate that the contact may have been on the shoulder/neckline, but additional simulation is something we don’t want in the game.”

—Sam Warburton, Former Lions Captain

**Warburton** highlighted that players in **Tizzano**’s position are aware of the risks involved when jackaling at a ruck. He noted that **Tom Curry** had experienced similar contact multiple times earlier in the match without complaint.

A “Perfect Clearout”

**Warburton** contended that the contact with **Tizzano** was likely on the back of the shoulders, a borderline call in the heat of the moment. He described **Morgan**’s subsequent action as a “perfect clearout,” praising the exceptional low body position and effective openside play.

He elaborated on **Morgan**’s follow-through, stating: “Morgan and Tizzano went down together. That sort of stuff happens in a second. After the initial hit, you can see Morgan grabbing Tizzano’s leg, which is what you are coached to do. He just follows through…”

When scrutinizing law 9:20, **Warburton** concluded that only the shoulder-to-shoulder contact point was debatable, with numerous factors favouring **Morgan**.

Sheehan Try More Contentious, Says Warburton

Interestingly, **Warburton** suggested that the decision to award **Dan Sheehan**’s try was more contentious. He acknowledged the difficulty in distinguishing between a player diving to score and evading a tackle.

The debate continues to highlight the fine margins and interpretations in modern rugby’s contact areas. Rugby Australia reported that player safety incidents leading to yellow or red cards have increased by 25% in the last two years, according to World Rugby data (World Rugby, 2024).