Western Force star and Wallabies forward Carlo Tizzano questions opening game choice for 2027 Rugby World Cup

Western Force star and Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano has backed in calls Australia should be facing New Zealand in the 2027 Rugby World Cup tournament-opener in Perth. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview on The West Sport Show podcast, Tizzano felt organisers had missed a trick by not booking New Zealand to face Australia in the tournament’s opening game at Optus Stadium. The proud Perth born-and-raised forward also opened up on the heartache of missing out on the Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks in Perth last October. And he spoke deeply about embracing his ADHD diagnosis and how he has leaned into the power of visualisation as a key pillar of his match-day preparation. After Optus Stadium was announced last January as the host venue for the tournament opener, excited fans anticipated organisers would open the tournament with Australia facing New Zealand when the two giants were drawn together in Group A in December. Instead, the Wallabies will face minnows Hong Kong in their opening game, with the Kiwis to face Chile in Perth a day later — and local fans were furious they were deprived of a trans-Tasman blockbuster. Tizzano said it would be a dream come true and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in his own backyard in a World Cup opening game, and had been thinking about it since the Webb Ellis Cup since it made a pit-stop in Perth in October. But he questioned the decision for the Wallabies to not open the tournament against New Zealand, with Sydney’s Accor Stadium the preferred venue for the heavyweight bout. “Since the day I did that press conference with with Roger Cook at King’s Park, with the World Cup (trophy) right there in front of me, I was looking at it and going, first game at Optus Stadium — it would have been cool if it was the All Blacks,” Tizzano said. “I don’t think I can say too much so I don’t get in trouble. But I do question, why would you not make one of the biggest rivalries in international rugby the World Cup opener? “We sold out the All Blacks game (last October) two weeks before kick-off. I can’t comment too much on it, because I don’t agree with it, but that’s the decision they made. “I definitely circled that date, no matter what, as soon as I saw that World Cup, I was looking at it going, yep, this is going to be me.” Despite his disagreement over the choice of team for the opener, Tizzano said he was desperate to play a part when the Wallabies take on Hong Kong in 18 months time — and then kick on and earn a spot in the team for the rest of the tournament. “I feel like that’s writing me off in terms of, oh, I might only play against Hong Kong, who are a tier two team — I’m looking for that All Blacks game (in Sydney),” he said. “I’m looking to play every game. Any opportunity to put that gold jersey is a massive honour, to be able to sing the anthem no matter what team it is.” Tizzano played in Perth for Australia against South Africa at Optus Stadium in 2024, but was dropped from the Wallabies’ bench for their clash against New Zealand last year. The back row was a position of strength for the Wallabies, with captain Harry Wilson, star flanker Fraser McReight, versatile Tom Hooper and back-to-back John Eales Medallist Rob Valetini all preferred by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt over Tizzano for that game. Missing that game is still a source of pain for Tizzano — but said he remembers that day for different, much happier reasons as well. “That hurt, really hurt, especially considering I played really well coming off the bench against the All Blacks at Eden Park,” he said. “That one was a tough pill to swallow. But look, that’s just how it goes in professional sports. It’s cruel. “It is what it is. It brings me a bit of emotion now, especially because my partner would have been there and my family would have been there. “But the same time, I look on the flip side and perspective: that night, I found out I was having a baby. “In the whole scheme of things, I’m just grateful the position I’m in. But when Joe shook my hand on Tuesday morning and told me that I’m not playing, that was tough. “I was pretty down about that one, but at the same time, the guys that he played deserve to be there. I felt like I deserved to be there as well but at the end of the day, it’s Joe’s decision, and I have to back that.”