'Disgusting' - Anger as Darcy Swain escapes red for 'woeful' clearout

Wallabies lock Darcy Swain can consider himself very to lucky to avoid a red card for a brutal clearout in the first Bledisloe Test in Melbourne - that's according to many on social media.

Swain was shown a yellow card by referee Matthieu Raynal after TMO Ben Whitehouse picked him up for targeting the leg of All Blacks centre Quinn Quinn Tupaea at a ruck near the Wallabies try line. The All Black was left screaming in pain after his knee looked to be hyper-extended laterally by the hit.

Swain - who was red carded during the July tour with England for an attempted headbutt on England's Jonny Hill - was sent to the sin bin, while Tapaea hobbled off with the help of medical staff in clear discomfort.

The anger was palpable on Twitter. Former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton wrote: "I don’t normally post shit like this but this young lad needs to check himself."

Former England flyhalf Andy Goode wrote: "Here’s the woeful clearout from Darcy Swain targeting the knee/lower leg of Quinn Tupaea. Shocking and a red card all day long" and applauded TMO Ben Whitehouse for spotting it; "Great call from Ben Whitehouse the TMO on calling out the clear out by Darcy Swain targeting the leg/knee of Quinn Tupaea who’s now hobbled off injured. Should have been a red card not a yellow though".

New Zealand journalist Mark Stafford wrote: "If either political party has a policy to crack down on Darcy Swain they’ve got my vote."

"A yellow card is not a suitable punishment for what Darcy Swain did there," wrote one fan. "Blatant targetting of a players knee leading to an injury. Should be a red card followed by a lengthy suspension."

Another fan ironically noted the seeming inequity of rugby union's card system: "Darcy Swain gets a yellow card for deliberate targeting Quinn Tupaea’s knee (possibly ruining his ACL) - the same punishment you get for an unsuccessful intercept."

Another angry Tweeter wrote: "Accidental head clash: red. Fine, I can accept that. Darcy Swain tries to end a man's season and potentially his career: take ten minutes in the bin, son."

While it was only a yellow card, it is highly likely that Swain will be cited and banned for the reckless challenge.