Harry Wilson has leapt to the defence of Wallabies teammate Carlo Tizzano after the flanker turned the goal of on-line abuse within the wake of the second Check defeat to the British and Irish Lions.
Tizzano has been not noted of the match-day 23 for Saturday’s third Check in Sydney, with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt saying the break is finest for the 24-year-old’s welfare after a bruising week.
The flanker was caught within the fallout from the Lions’ 29-26 win on the MCG, after a ruck within the build-up to Hugo Keenan’s match-winning attempt turned a speaking level after the sport.
Lions flyhalf Finn Russell accused Tizzano of exaggerating the influence from the clearout, claiming he “clearly holds his head and tried to get a penalty from it,” whereas former England flanker James Haskell mentioned the Wallaby ought to have been despatched off for “diving.”
Wilson was adamant the criticism of Tizzano was undeserved.
“Carlo is… he’s such a tough, tough man and he’s obviously been copping it from everywhere, which I don’t think is right because you don’t meet a tougher footy player than Carlo,” Wilson said.
“So we haven’t really appreciated what he’s copped, and it’s probably a good thing for him to get out of the limelight a little, get his body right and just get back to enjoying his footy.
“Obviously with these series comes a lot of media, a lot of pressure, and it seems like a lot of people wanted to take it out on him this week.”
Wilson admitted that seeing a teammate targeted hurt but said the Wallabies didn’t need extra motivation for the so-called dead rubber, which will be played in front of a sell-out Accor Stadium.
“Yeah, you never like seeing your mate targeted. That’s something no one really appreciates. But in saying that, we’ve got enough motivation for this game.”
