Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has taken aim at officials for allowing a match-winning late try to the British and Irish Lions to stand, after claiming the decision not to penalise Jac Morgan for his clean-out goes against the sport’s ‘push for player safety’. Hugo Keenan’s try in the dying seconds snatched a series-clinching 29-26 victory for the Lions at the MCG on Saturday night.
But it came in highly controversial fashion, with the Wallabies coach and a number of former players insisting the try should have been chalked off and Australia given a penalty. Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano appeared to have been illegally cleaned out in the build-up, with former Wallabies star Morgan Turinui pointing out on Nine’s broadcast that the Lions player made dangerous contact with the Aussie’s neck.
The Wallabies lost to a last-minute try to the Lions after being denied a penalty for what they insisted was illegal contact at the ruck. Pic: Getty/Nine
“The end is a penalty to the Wallabies and the referees were too weak to give it. You cannot hit a guy in the back of the neck to save the ball,” he said on Nine’s broadcast. “The referees have got it wrong, it has cost the Wallabies. It is a terrible decision that decides this match.”
The Television Match Official checked Morgan’s clean-out and agreed with Italian referee Andrea Piardi’s initial call to award the try. But Australia’s coach Schmidt suggested it flew in the face of world rugby’s guidelines on player safety, and specifically, directives around high contact.
“Players make errors, match officials make errors. Our perspective is we felt it was a decision that doesn’t really live up to the big player safety push that they’re talking about,” the Wallabies coach said. “You cannot hit someone above the level of their shoulders and there’s no bind with the left arm, the hand’s on the ground.
“That’s what we’ve seen, we’ve watched a number of replays from different angles. It is what it is, we just have to accept it.” Schmidt said he was referring to Law 9.20 in rugby that states: “A player must not charge into a ruck or maul without binding onto another player.” It also goes on to say that “making contact above the line of the shoulders with an opponent is a dangerous play and is prohibited”.
Rugby world divided as Wallabies’ penalty claims rejected
Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper was also of the opinion that it should have been a penalty to Australia for an illegal clearout. “I can see what the referee’s saying but there’s a penalty there, whether it’s on head, on neck or whether he’s going straight off his feet to ground,” Hooper said on Nine. “I would say if that was minute one it’s a penalty and it was deserved to be awarded and the try overturned.”
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But ex-England and Lions captain Martin Johnson disagreed and said the officials were correct in awarding the try. “I didn’t think there was enough there for a penalty that would change the game,” he said on Nine. “You have to be very, very sure to change the game on a ref’s decision. I thought it wasn’t a penalty.”
Lions head coach Andy Farrell also insisted the ‘right decision’ was made. “It was a brilliant clearout. I couldn’t understand what they were going back for,” Farrell said. “They seem to go back for absolutely everything these days, don’t they? I’m so pleased that the referee held his nerve.”
Wallabies players look shattered as the Lions score a contentious try at the death to win the second Test match. Pic: Getty
The Wallabies looked destined set to set up a series-deciding game 3 in Sydney next weekend when they raced out to a 23-5 lead after 30 minutes, courtesy of tries to prop James Slipper, halfback Jake Gordon and fullback Tom Wright. That was despite losing winger Harry Potter to a hamstring injury in the opening 20 minutes.
But the tide soon turned in the Lions’ favour and two quick tries before halftime cut Australia’s lead down to six at the break. An early penalty goal in the second half helped extend the Wallabies’, before the tourists. hit back with a 59th-minute try to prop Tadgh Beirne.
It set up a thrilling finale and an arm-wrestle ensued for the remainder of the second half with just two points separating the teams. The Wallabies looked to have done enough but were ultimately left heartbroken after the controversial late match-winner. It means the Wallabies are the first team since the 1966 Lions tour to lose the series in two games.
Wtf was that last call seriously professional foul any day of the week and doesn’t get a penalty at all and still keeps the try wtf
— Steven John Flynn (@JohnFlyn1) July 26, 2025
A highshot on Carlo Tizzano, should have been a wallabies penalty
— Timmy Turnantino (@nasser_liam) July 26, 2025
Was a penalty. Should have been disallowed. Wallabies robbed
— Char Lee (@redsfan1978) July 26, 2025
The @wallabies continually find themselves getting screwed over by crap refereeing. Andrea Piardi’s failure to give a penalty against Morgan was an utter disgrace.
— Nick Walker (@namwalker) July 26, 2025