Rugby Australia want 'accountability' on late call in Lions test

Reuters

28-07-2025

SYDNEY, July 28 (Reuters) - Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said he would seek an explanation from World Rugby on the late call by referee Andrea Piardi that ultimately decided the match and the series in the second test against the British & Irish Lions.
Hugo Keenan's last-minute try gave the Lions a 29-26 win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with the Irish fullback scoring after Jac Morgan had cleared out Carlo Tizzano in a ruck in the buildup.
The Wallabies wanted a penalty for high contact but, after a discussion with the TMO, Piardi allowed the try to stand, a decision slammed by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt in his post-match press conference as contrary to World Rugby's campaign to improve player safety.
"Joe's comments were 100% aligned with mine as a CEO and a former Wallaby," Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Our position on that particular decision is consistent to what Joe outlined in his analysis of that last breakdown.
"Clearly there'll be the usual process, which is what happens after every test match, and we'll certainly be looking for a level of accountability from World Rugby over the next period of time."
The incident has led to a huge debate across all forms of media, but Nigel Owens, formerly the number one referee in the game, came down firmly on the side of his Welsh compatriot Morgan.
"There are a lot of experts on social media and a lot of pundits who think they are experts at refereeing as well," Owens to BBC Radio Wales on Monday.
"The Australian player gets in and he is also very low. This happens all the way through the game, we see many of these incidents. Morgan comes in and tries to go underneath him, go really low to clear him out. It is textbook clearing out."
Owens said the only time this type of action would be illegal was if Morgan had arrived a couple of seconds later.
"Then there would be the conversation that there could be foul play," he said.
"But it is very dynamic, like the referee explained. The Australian player gets there a split second before, but Morgan is already coming in in a legal clearout and so then there's no foul play. It's a perfect clearout."
Saturday's victory gave the Lions an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series ahead of the third and final test at Sydney's Stadium Australia this weekend.
Max Jorgensen, one of the few Wallabies who might still be playing when the Lions next visit Australia, said on Monday it had been crushing to lose in Melbourne after leading until the final minute.
"It really hurts, it's a tough pill to swallow. I was absolutely gutted personally, I know everyone in the team was," the 20-year-old winger told reporters at the team hotel.
"To have to wait another 12 years to have the chance of getting a series win is obviously devastating."
It is 121 years since the Lions swept the Wallabies in a test series and forward Nick Frost said there was a real determination in the squad to put their best foot forward in Sydney at the weekend.
"We're definitely keen to rip in," the lock said. "We know there's so many things that we've got to improve on but there's some really good parts of that game."