The Lions have dismissed Australian claims that they were robbed of victory in the second Lions Test, while UK media has heaped scorn on an “unforgivable” act from Wallabies player Carlo Tizzano.
Lions forward Jac Morgan clattered into Tizzano at a ruck in the lead-up to a 79th-minute try for Hugo Keenan, which sealed a 29-26 win and the series for the tourists. who now lead 2-0 with a dead rubber remaining in Sydney
Australia thought the try would be overturned on review due to Tizzano being illegally struck on the back of the neck; he reacted as such when the incident occurred. But the try stood, leading to claims from former Wallaby Morgan Turinui of a “terrible decision” that was “weak” and “wrong”.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Lions coach Andy Farrell insisted the ruck contact was fine.
“I thought it was a brilliant clearout,“ said Farrell. ”It depends which side of the fence you come from. I can understand people’s opinions.
“I thought Jac was brilliant when he came on and so were the rest of the bench. I thought it was a good clear out live.
“I couldn’t understand what they were going back for. They seem to go back for absolutely everything these days, don’t they?
“I’m so pleased that the referee held his nerve. The right decision in my opinion. Honestly, sheer joy.”
Carlo Tizzano of the Wallabies receives medical attention following a crucial ruck contest in the final moments of the second Test.Source: Getty Images
Lions skipper Maro Itoje added: “It was fine. Naturally, their captain was trying to get his point across and, in my view, argue for something that didn’t happen.
“I guess I was just arguing for something that did happen. Fortunately Jac was accurate with what he was doing and everything was fine.”
Former Lions coach Warren Gatland declared on Sky Sports that is was a fair clear-out from Morgan.
“I just think that’s a clear-out,” he said.
“I don’t know where Jac Morgan is supposed to go. He hasn’t tried to make contact with the head — he’s gone low. It’s a rugby incident; someone just clearing out a ruck.”
Carlo Tizzano and Jac Morgan collide at the fateful ruck, and Joseph Suaalii shows his despair. Pictures: Stan SportSource: Supplied
Writing for the Telegraph, Oliver Brown said that Tizzano had exaggerated the incident and that Australian claims of a poor decision “smacked of misplaced bitterness”.
“In the end, the verdict was clear: the Australian had tried to buy a penalty, falling backwards with an exaggeration of which an Italian centre-forward would have been proud,” Brown wrote.
“Tizzano clearly milked the incident, collapsing with a melodrama that could easily have persuaded some officials to chalk off Keenan’s try. As Piardi waved off the Australian protests, Andy Farrell could be seen muttering a few choice oaths in relief. It would have been hugely unjust for the series-clinching score to be ruled out on the basis of one player’s histrionics. He deserved, as his team did, to celebrate long into the Melbourne night.
“The reality was that Morgan’s clear-out technique was blameless: he wrapped his arms legally and could not have gone any lower. By contrast, Tizzano’s reaction – staggering back, clutching his head as if in mortal agony – was anything but.”
“This try will be disallowed” … NOT! | 00:45
Writing for The Times, Stephen Jones branded Tizzano’s reaction “unforgivable”.
“There was one final horror when we noticed that the officials were gathering together to examine actions leading to the try. They found that Jac Morgan, who had been greeted uproariously by the crowd as he came on as a replacement to give the Lions a Welsh contingent, hammered into Australia’s Carlo Tizzano shoulder to shoulder.
“Tizzano, unforgivably, reached back and dived out of the ruck, and the officials quite correctly concluded that there was no offence. But there was a Lions try. And they had won the series.”
Jones also reflected on the Lions’ pulling power, having drawn a team record 90,307 fans to the MCG, and their fortitude in making a record comeback from 18 points down.
“And so the series is in the bag. You would now love the Lions ferociously to put on a tremendous performance in Sydney. In Melbourne the cheers and roars were echoing – first around the magnificent stadium and then around the city as the crowds dispersed.
“The Lions are the biggest things in rugby. They have entranced so many people on the field. They have been united, and now they are united in history as the Lions who won. The Wallabies were so courageous, but in the end they were victims of a force not of nature, but of history.”
Hugo Keenan of the British & Irish Lions dives over to score the last-minute, match-winning try.Source: Getty Images
Writing for the BBC, Tom English claimed that a whitewash seemed certain and reflected on the future of the Lions touring Australia, given the downturn in the success of the Wallabies; whom traditionally they visit only every 12 years.
“A shot at winning three Tests in a row for the first time since 1974? You would bet the house on them now,” English wrote.
“Should they be dropped? Should carrots be dangled in front of the French clubs to see if they want to join the rota, maybe as a replacement for Australia or even in addition to Australia?
“The poor state of Wallaby rugby, Saturday’s emotional response apart, is only one section of this. The other part is commerce. Follow the money, as they say. The cities and stadiums in Australia are extraordinary in scale and number and the fans love coming here. As ever, the red army has travelled in force.
“Even before the masses descended on the MCG, this tour was averaging 40,364 per game.
“Australia has the stadium capacity to go larger and make more revenue than any other tour. As long as that is the case, the Lions will always come here. It’s the economy, stupid.”