Rugby Australia to seek answers from World Rugby over MCG call
Waugh's firm stance came after Schmidt slammed Italian referee Andrea Piardi for not awarding a match-defining penalty in the 79th minute of the Lions' 29-26 win in Melbourne.
Lions fullback Hugo Keenan scored in the last minute secure a series-clinching victory, but Schmidt came out swinging over an incident at the previous ruck, where Welsh flanker Jac Morgan cleaned out Carlo Tizzano with a hit on the back of the neck.
The Wallabies argued Morgan should have been penalised for breaching Law 9.20, which prohibits contact above the shoulders at a ruck. With the Wallabies leading by two points, a penalty would have likely seen the series go to a decider on Saturday at Accor Stadium.
Piardi reviewed the incident but ruled there it was not foul play because both players had arrived at the same time and Morgan had not used a shoulder.
Schmidt said Piardi appeared unwilling to make a big call in the last minute, and the decision 'doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they [World Rugby] are talking about.
'That decision, you only have to look at law 9.20. It's what they're there to enforce. A player who dives off his feet is clearly beaten to the position over the ball, makes neck contact, it was a tough one to take.'
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin and chairman Brett Robinson were guests at the MCG, ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup events with Waugh and RA this week in Sydney.
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Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Mouthguard data reveals Tizzano copped ‘high magnitude' impact at MCG
Asked about the Gilpin comments later on Tuesday, in an interview with Stan Sport's Lions Central, Schmidt leapt to the defence of Tizzano, who has labelled a diver by sections of the British media and Lions fans. 'I just heard the end of it [Gilpin's press conference] then because we'd just finished training, but talking about the instrumental mouthguards, with Carlo when he was hit, I feel sorry for him because I think he's copping a lot of flak, but that impact was almost double what they determine as a high magnitude impact,' Schmidt said. 'So that's the degree of force that he had to wear I suppose, and that in itself is enough to force someone to recoil as he did. So those are some of the things that we get actual readings on. 'He's had a pretty sore neck for the last 24-48 hours, but he's back, he's resilient, and he's back looking forward to the weekend.' Instrumented mouthguards (IMGs) were funded and rolled out globally by World Rugby last year to all players in elite competitions, and data is captured when players' heads are subjected to forces that, if high enough, can alert game day doctors to assess a player for a potential concussion. Tizzano received treatment for his neck at the MCG but the reading did not trigger an HIA. 'Just in terms of protecting Carlo, I think it's just probably getting the information out there that that level of force causes a chain reaction. That's the equation,' Schmidt said. 'That impact was almost double what they determine as a high magnitude impact.' Joe Schmidt on the Carlo Tizzano clear-out World Rugby will deliver the findings of the referee review to the teams, but not make it public, Gilpin said. Part of the reasoning, Gilpin said, is to protect Piardi and the match officials, given online abuse has in recent years had mental health consequences for referees, and even seen their families threatened. Schmidt would not face consequences for his post-match comments, Gilpin said. 'There's a lot of emotion, understandably,' Gilpin said. 'Joe's comments have continued to respect the fact that the match officials have got a tough job to do. He might disagree with the decisions that were made, but I don't think he's called the integrity of our match officials into question.' Robinson said match officials go through an extensive review process, and like players, and can face consequences for future appointments. 'Our team will have looked at the match and looked at, you know, there are always going to be things that don't work properly and there are going to be things that do,' he said. 'Ultimately, the referees are accountable. So I think there's a sort of a sense that they're not. You know, on the basis of performance over time, referees move up the rankings and they move down. They get picked for Test matches or they don't.' But Robinson also emphasised the need for WR to support whistleblowers, citing Nic Berry being slammed publicly by Rassie Erasmus in the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa. 'Nic got absolutely hammered, and hammered publicly. And you talk to Nic today and that's something he's still recovering from,' he said. 'So I take a real responsibility for protecting referees.' Loading Revealing the ticketing program for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, RA and World Rugby – the joint organisers – revealed there would be one million tickets available for $100, as part of a drive to make the tournament as affordable and accessible as possible. With an extra four teams in the tournament, a record 2.5 million tickets will be sold, with adults starting at $40 and children at $20. A limited number of new Superfan passes will also be sold next month, which guarantee four tickets to any match including the final.
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
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World Cup-chasing Socceroo Hrustic seals club move
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7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Brisbane Lions frontrunners to sign free agents Oscar Allen and Sam Draper
Brisbane are looming as the favourites to secure the prized signature of Essendon free agent Sam Draper, according to Channel 7's Caroline Wilson. As the Lions hunt back-to-back premierships, they are also set to be a major player in the off-season with two big moves looming. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Brisbane have long been seen as the likely landing spot for West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen and now it looks like Draper will also head north. Both Allen and Draper are sidelined with injury and remain unsigned at their respective clubs. Allen has previously met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell during the season, while Draper was also heavily courted by Adelaide. However, the Crows now have security in their ruck department with Reilly O'Brien recently inking a three-year extension. 'Look, I think that Oscar Allen, who is a near certainty now to sign with Brisbane, is going to be joined by Sam Draper,' Wilson reported on The Agenda Setters. 'Now, it's been mentioned in dispatches in recent days, but I'm getting more and more confident that that is going to happen for the Brisbane Lions, who, it must be said, have been unbelievable in luring big-name free agents and mature players to the club and developing from the bottom.' The Lions will hope Allen slots straight into the forward line and fill the hole that was left by Joe Daniher's shock retirement after last year's grand final. The likely arrival of Draper will give Brisbane some valuable depth in the ruck department. No.1 big man Oscar McInerney has been hampered by a back injury this year that coach Chris Fagan conceded was 'degenerative'. He has since returned to the side and is playing alongside side Darcy Fort, who incidentally replaced McInerney in last year's grand final team. Both McInerney and Fort are contracted until the end of 2026. Luke Hodge highlighted McInerney's back worries when discussing Draper's likely move. 'Oscar McInerney's been an absolute star for the Brisbane Lions,' he said. 'I think he's averaged 22, 23 games the last six years, but he's played 11 this year and there's a real concern with his back. 'He's a heart and soul player. So if they could get him right, they would keep him without a shadow of doubt. 'I think they're looking as a fallback plan in case this back is a real issue.'
