Waratahs back-rower Carlo Tizzano is continuing to aim big, reinvigorated after a return home to Western Australia.
Tizzano, who made his debut for the Force in 2019 as part of Global Rapid Rugby, returned last Saturday to play at HBF Park for the first time since leaving the club.
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The game ended in heartbreak for the visitors, with an 85th minute penalty goal by Domingo Miotti sinking their hopes of a maiden win in 2021.
Despite the loss, Tizzano remained positive about the experience both personally and professionally.
“I saw my family before and after the game and that was awesome,” Tizzano told the media on Monday. “I haven’t been able to see them a lot over the past 18 months so that was really good.
“It was an awesome game, going up in front of the old fans, the Sea of Blue, they’re a great crowd.
“Everyone’s been pretty positive. We gave it our best crack and the biggest thing for us was giving the fans something to be proud of.
“Yeah, we lost by one point but we taken a lot of learnings out of it and we’re just going to get better and better.
“There were some real positives outcomes from that game and we’re going to take it into this week and Trans-Tasman."
Tizzano's impressive work ethic and attitude is evident to see on the field, recording a game-high 27 tackles in the loss.
Defensive effort has been a major focus of the 21-year-old, setting the goal to be the competition's leading tackler.
Whilst he has all-but-secured that, sitting 36 ahead of his nearest rival (Kane Koteka), he has a bigger goal on his mind: Wallabies selection.
“Make the Wallabies, 100%. That’s deadest what it is,” he stated.
“There’s been nothing but I’m going to keep knocking at that door and eventually they will open it.”
To do so, he is looking towards Super Rugby Trans-Tasman as an opportunity to make a name himself, and he was very clear about who he wanted to target as the Waratahs look to silence their critics.
"Whose top of the table at the moment? Crusaders then," he said.
"I think it’d be cool to get a run against Ardie Savea as well, going against one of the best sevens in the world would be an awesome experience.
“We thrive off that. We’re a young team and from where we've come from the start of the year, the improvement that we’ve had, especially the circumstances with Rob leaving, I think we’re hitting some good ground and we’re excited for the future."
READ MORE:
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BRUMBIES BATTLE: Brumbies overcome Rebels scare
HEART-BREAKER: Miotti, Force down Waratahs
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