Swinton banned for Super Rugby season after ‘highly dangerous’ tackle

The World Cup hopes of Waratahs flanker Lachie Swinton are in jeopardy after he was hit with a seven-week suspension for a dangerous tackle, which will see him miss the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season.

Swinton was cited for a late, high tackle on Force No.10 Jake Strachan during the opening minute of NSW’s win over the WA side at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, which saw Strachan fail to finish the game due to concussion.

The incident was somehow not spotted by the match officials during the game but the SANZAAR Judicial Committee didn’t miss Swinton in upholding the citing after a hearing on Tuesday night, with chair Helen Morgan slamming the tackle as “highly dangerous” and worthy of a top-end, 10-week suspension.

“With respect to sanction, the Judicial Committee deemed the act of foul play was reckless, with the contact point directly made with the head, high force and no mitigating factors present,” Morgan said.

“The Committee found the incident was highly dangerous and, after considering all relevant factors of World Rugby’s Head Contact Process and sanctioning table, decided the foul play merited a top-end entry point of 10 weeks.”

The 26-year-old flanker has his suspension reduced to seven weeks after the Judicial Committee accounted for mitigating factors such as remorse and conduct at the hearing, but Swinton’s ban is the longest handed down to an Australian since Brumbies wing Chance Peni was hit with a seven-week ban in 2018.

Lachie Swinton at the Wallabies camp.Credit: Getty

Swinton will miss the remaining seven Super Rugby games for NSW and only be eligible to play in the first week of the Super Rugby final. That means the Waratahs will have to qualify for the playoffs Swinton to play for the side again this year.

They currently sit in ninth and Swinton’s absence won’t make the job of finishing in the top eight any easier.

The seven-week ban will also leave the World Cup hopes of Swinton in the balance. The seven-Test flanker won a belated call-up from Eddie Jones for the Wallabies’ pre-World Cup camp on the Gold Coast this week after initially missing selection.

But Jones has been strong on requiring players to be playing to be considered for selection, and Swinton missing the remainder of the Super Rugby season may prove costly when Jones picks his squad for the Rugby Championship in June, and then the World Cup in August.

Swinton is tackled against the Force.Credit: Getty

It is not the first lengthy ban handed down to Swinton. The firebrand forward was banned for four weeks after being sent off for a high shot in his Test debut in 2020.

More impact, fewer brain explosions: Latu still pushing for World Cup selection

Having worked hard to overcome his propensity to slip from hard-edge play into “brain explosion”, Tolu Latu believes he still has something to offer the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

But as far as impressing Eddie Jones has gone this season, the problem has been less about discipline and all about winning selection for the Waratahs.

Latu was the starting hooker for the Wallabies at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and one of Australia’s best in a disappointing tournament. But the 22-cap hooker was a long way from being considered for Jones’ first camp on the Gold Coast this week, with five hookers named ahead of him, at least.

But that’s no shock, given the 30-year-old has been the third choice hooker at the Waratahs since returning this year from a three-year stint in France, and had played just 99 minutes in seven rounds.

With Wallabies hooker Dave Porecki and rising No.2 Mahe Vailanu preferred by coach Darren Coleman, Latu has had only snatched minutes from the bench and played club rugby for Parramatta last week.

“I feel like I am still finding my feet. It’s tough getting minimum minutes in games but you have to deal with it and do the best you can when you get the opportunity,” Latu said.

Tolu Latu passes the ball playing against the Drua.Credit: Getty

“It’s a bit hard, not getting big minutes, trying to prove myself worthy enough to get that starting spot. But in saying that, I have two quality hookers in front of me, and I knew that coming back to the Waratahs it wasn’t going to be easy.”

Latu’s recruitment in late 2022 was contentious and required board approval given his chequered past, on and off the field. He was fined and suspended for drink-driving in Australia in 2019, and busted for a second drink-driving offence in France in 2021.

Latu’s on-field discipline was also poor in his last season at Stade Francais, where he received seven yellow cards and two reds in three years. The last red led to an 11-week suspension for a reckless tackle and his exit from the club.

“Before signing here I had a Zoom call with [NSW forwards coach] Paul [Taumoepeau] and ‘Bladesy’ [Waratahs general manager Andrew Blades] and chats over message with ‘DC’ [coach Darren Coleman], about that discipline. They said they trusted me and wanted me to keep playing on the edge, but also making sure there would be no brain explosions within that decision-making on the field,” Latu said.

Latu said he’d been keeping a cool head but, with limited minutes, it’s hard to get an accurate gauge on the overall reformation. It’s also been hard gauge whether Latu still has the ability that saw him emerge as one of the Wallabies’ best in the 2019 World Cup.

“I feel like I have more to give in Australian rugby but it comes down to taking opportunities when they come,” Latu said.

“That [2023 Rugby World Cup] was another reason why I came back, with the rules being you have to play in Super Rugby to get picked. But I knew I wasn’t going to just come back and get given the jersey. It doesn’t happen like that.

“I feel like if I do get on the park and do get more minutes, and I play enough footy and play consistently each week, then there is always an opportunity to be called up into the squad. But they can’t really pick you if you’re not playing. So for myself, it’s just when I get the opportunities and making the most of it.

Tolu Latu was named man of the match in Australia’s 39-21 victory over Fiji in Sapporo in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.Credit: Rugby AU Media/Stuart Walmsley

“I feel like I haven’t made the most of my chances this season so when I do get my opportunities, I have to take them and play better.”

Latu, who also recently became a father, will return to NSW’s bench this week for a clash with the Blues in Auckland, due to Porecki suffering a concussion against the Force.

And with more game time, Latu believes he can prove he has what it takes to play Test rugby. His last Wallabies appearance came on the 2021 spring tour, when Latu was called up by Dave Rennie from Stade Francais.

“I feel like if I do get a chance to play more minutes and prove myself, then I could get myself back there,” he said.

“But it is still taking one week at a time and seeing what minutes I get and making sure I perform when I do get on the field.”

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