Coach expresses his disgust after TMO misses brutal late hit
REACTION: Western Force coach Simon Cron has expressed his disgust at how Lachie Swinton’s brutal late hit on flyhalf Jake Strachan went unnoticed during Saturday’s 16-36 loss to the Waratahs.
Swinton flattened Strachan just 21 seconds into the match after the Force playmaker had completed a clearing kick.
The referee and TMO failed to pick up the incident during the match, despite Strachan going off a few minutes later for a concussion test.
Strachan passed the HIA and returned to the field, but was subbed out at half-time after his condition deteriorated.
The concussion is so bad that Strachan is set to miss a minimum of four weeks.
7️⃣semanas de suspensión para Lachan Swinton por este artero golpe sobre Jake Strachan apenas comenzando el partido #FORvWAR
Lo curioso….ninguno de los oficiales de partido vio el golpe ni el TMO lo consideró foul play
ADVERTISEMENTNo podrá jugar x el resto del #SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/PWM3xhqo5n
— Fran Capizzi 🏉📺🇦🇷 (@Fran_Capizzi) April 18, 2023
Swinton was later cited by SANZAAR and slapped with a 10-week ban, which was reduced to seven weeks given Swinton’s acceptance of guilt and display of remorse.
If Swinton had received a red card when the incident occurred, it would have put the Force in the box seat to secure a vital victory.
Cron was left flabbergasted at how the incident went unnoticed at the time.
“We saw it live, everyone I’ve talked to saw it live … and yet two guys in the [TMO] box with nine cameras missed it,” Cron told reporters on Thursday.
“So you’ve got to ask the question – did they miss it, or did they choose to miss it?
“Because I don’t understand how you could miss it.”
Force chief executive Tony Lewis has written to Rugby Australia about the incident.
Strachan was allowed to re-enter the field in the first half after being cleared by an independent doctor.
Despite it not being a Force medical staff member who cleared him to return, Cron was feeling some guilt that Strachan was placed at further risk.
“I wish I picked up that he was not good. He was battling to make any calls – structure, system wise,” Cron said.
“We had some young leaders out there and they said to me after the game, ‘He wasn’t talking to us’.
“If I had known that, I would have pulled him off immediately.
“I wish that I had picked up on that myself from the box. I’m disappointed in us we didn’t see it.
“I felt bad for Strachy because that’s risky, it scares me.
“But ultimately, I think that if it had been dealt with properly the first time [with the TMO addressing the hit], it would have been a lot clearer for everyone.”
Swinton’s seven-week suspension is the longest ban imposed on an Australian since Brumbies wing Chance Peni was hit with one of similar length five years ago.
