Wallabies flanker Lachie Swinton was shown a yellow card for an illegal tackle against the Springboks during Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash in Brisbane.
Swinton hit Duane Vermeulen hard straight from a restart in the first half and despite referee Matt Carley initially waving play on, his TMO highlighted the collision for further review.
Is Lachie Swinton lucky to get away with a yellow card?
The Rugby Championship. Every Match. Ad-free. Live & On Demand.#StanSportAU | #AUSvRSA | #TRC2021 pic.twitter.com/HVY2CuT2SU
— Stan Sport (@StanSportAU) September 18, 2021
After taking a closer look at the incident Carley suggested a red card to Swinton for making contact with Vermeulen’s head, however the punishment was brought down to a yellow after the initial point of contact was deemed to be shoulder-on-shoulder.
Lachie Swinton see yellow after some huge contact 🟨
The Rugby Championship. Every Match. Ad-free. Live & On Demand.#StanSportAU | #AUSvRSA | #TRC2021 pic.twitter.com/HCpNeD4bwx
— Stan Sport (@StanSportAU) September 18, 2021
Swinton’s tackle height and lack of use of his arm in contact meant a yellow card was still brandished to the big man, and the 24-year-old was actually shown red on his debut for a similar incident against the All Blacks in November last year.
REACTION
Am pretty sure Swinton has nearly gone another no-arms tackle there … luckily missed the target. Tucked his arm. Treading a fine line and he’s not the only one. Boks up 17-15 and with all the momentum
— Tom Decent (@tomdecent) September 18, 2021
What an emotional journey that must’ve been for Swinton hearing that chat between ref & TMO over the tannoy #AUSvRSA
— Graham Love (@glove931) September 18, 2021
Maybe going against the local crowd, but Swinton went in way too upright and suffered the consequences. Its becoming a pattern with him.
— Hugh Cavill (@hughcavill) September 18, 2021
Poor tackle technique but it’s shoulder to shoulder.
Yellow at most IMO.
Swinton’s tackle technique will continue to come under scrutiny.
ADVERTISEMENT— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) September 18, 2021
Lachie Swinton got pinged once last week for his rubbish tackling technique.
He also got red card against the All Blacks on his test debut for a high tackle.
He is lucky he got a yellow. It was ugly. #RugbyChampionship #AUSvRSA
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 18, 2021
Swinton a lucky boy. If that shoulder makes contact that’s as clear a red as you’d ever see. Awful awful technique
— A-P Cronje (@rugby_ap) September 18, 2021
Swinton is a yellow card machine! Australian liability
— Not Peter de Villiers (@Coachdivvy) September 18, 2021
Sign In