Force coach unleashes on TMO for missing Swinton hit

Justin Chadwick | April 20, 2023

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 36-16 loss to the NSW 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.

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 winger Chance Peni was hit with one of similar length five years ago.