
Andy Farrell and Joe Schmidt disagree over ref call as Lions clinch series win
Captains Harry Wilson and Maro Itoje attempted to influence referee Andrea Piardi during the decision-making process before it was eventually judged that Morgan's contact with Carlo Tizzano was legal.
Full time scenes in Melbourne 🥹🦁#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/0WYH2c146D
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025
If Keenan's try had been chalked off, the series would have gone to a decider in Sydney next Saturday. Instead, the Lions have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead.
'It was a brilliant clearout. I couldn't understand what they were going back for,' Lions head coach 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. The right decision in my opinion.'
Furious Australia boss Schmidt felt the outcome reached by Piardi was at odds with the game's push to improve player safety and accused the Italian of failing to implement the laws.
'Just watch the footage,' said Schmidt, who insisted the incident taking place in the final minute influenced the verdict.
'You just have to read law 9.20 and you just have to listen to the description from the referee and then watch the footage when two players are described as arriving at the same time.
'You cannot hit someone above the levels of the shoulders and there's no bind with the left arm, his hand is on the ground. That's what we have seen.
'We have watched a number of replays from different angles so it is what it is. We just have to accept it.
'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 are talking about.
Schmidt also placed a spotlight on Dan Sheehan's 16th-minute try when he took a quick tap penalty and crossed the whitewash by launching himself into the air.
The try was allowed to stand because he dived while in the act of scoring, but Schmidt insisted the fact he was airborne made him virtually impossible to stop.
'World Rugby are trying to make sure that we are tackling lower and so we had two tacklers going in to tackle low – and he dived and scored,' the Kiwi said.
'He is pretty much head first so what do we do to stop him scoring apart from stopping his head? There's not much else you can do.'
History made 🦁#Lions2025 pic.twitter.com/sZvIb7jyTn
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025
Farrell declared that winning the series is 'what dreams are made of', while Itoje targeted a whitewash of the Wallabies.
'When we first met, big Faz made the call. He wanted us to come here and win everything,' Itoje said.
'So don't get me wrong, we're absolutely delighted with the result, but we want to go again next weekend.'

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The Sun
2 hours ago
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A 3lb rise in the weights is more than fair and he can strike for Karl Burke with Christophe Soumillon doing the steering. GOODWOOD 1.20 SING US A SONG can be forgiven one poor run at Royal Ascot where he was sleeping in the stalls. Ralph Beckett's Camelot colt is better judged on his blistering Sandown win that kicked off this season. He shapes like this trip will be ideal and has more to come off a fair mark. The yard has another chance with Cape Breton who won nicely from the front at Salisbury. This is tougher but there's more to come. Sudu deserves this hike in grade after winning by seven lengths at Epsom earlier this month. He's been hiked 11lb but has lots of talent. Omni Man was a solid fifth at Royal Ascot on a tough handicap debut. He likes this trip and Ryan Moore rides for Joseph O'Brien. They have every chance. Kurakka didn't enjoy dropping to 1m2f at Newmarket last time after a good Haydock win over this trip. 1.55 PICK up the Tab with Ralph Beckett's improver in the Oak Tree Stakes. TABITI was a cracking third in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. She led past the furlong marker in that red-hot mile contest and dropping back in trip here looks perfect. Romantic Style and Jabaara look the main threats. Here's my guide to the field, where I rate them one (worst) to five (best): BRIGHT THUNDER 3 THUNDER clap. In fine form with French Listed win last time. Handles good and won't mind dropping to 7f. Player. CHIC COLOMBINE 1 COL it off. Listed winner at best and has scored here before but been out of form for a long time. Lot to prove now. CLOUD COVER 3 COVER up. Two Listed wins on AW, stays 7f strongly and travels. Player if matching that level on rare turf run. FAIR ANGELLICA 2 JUST Fair. Solid G3 fourth at Newbury last time over 6f but stays. Goes on any ground but needs more for this. HAVANA PUSEY 1 HAVANA laugh. Reliable handicapper with two 7f wins here and at Windsor. Handles C&D but this is a tougher test all round. JABAARA 4 JAB landed. Solid Listed performer over this trip and yard in form. Likes quick ground and won't be far away. JASNA'S SECRET 3 SECRET hope. French raider with Listed win in April and a close-up Group 3 fourth last time over this trip. Best on easy ground but should handle conditions okay. ROMANTIC STYLE 4 SMART Style. Smart Meydan winner in January and unlucky in G3 Abernant at HQ on return. Solid 7f filly when right and can figure under Buick. ARABIAN DUSK 3 DUSK may dawn. She has gone close at Group 2 level this season over 6f but should relish this trip. Has class and won't be far away. BETTY CLOVER 2 BETTY oops. She's been placed here and in this grade but was pulled up on firm at Royal Ascot and may prefer a mile. FORMAL 3 FORMAL wary. Epsom Listed winner in June but well held since at York. Yet to truly convince at this level but has potential if back on song. SAQQARA SANDS 3 SHIFTING Sands. Carlisle Listed win last time after good runs at Epsom and Newbury. Respected but likes soft. SILVER GHOST 2 GHOST her. Two good 7f handicap wins in spring and shaped okay in big Royal Ascot field. Likes this track, but others stronger on form. TABITI 5 BITI has bite. Lightly raced filly who took a step forward when third in Sandringham at Royal Ascot. She travels well and finishes strongly. Big potential improver with drop to 7f fine. 2.30 LADY IMAN looks much the best filly in this race and hopefully top Irish trainer Ger Lyons can land his first winner on British soil since way back in 2019. He won't have had many better chances than this talented Starman filly who took the Group 3 Blackbeard Stakes at Naas in May before going close in hot company at The Curragh last time. This is only the second time Ryan Moore's ridden for the yard and the drop back to the minimum trip should help given how sweetly she travels. Military Code was just nabbed in a Sandown Listed race over this trip latest and may find it easier to get home here. Charlie Appleby is in fine form and his hope goes on good or rattling fast ground. Ameeq got clattered by a rival jockey's whip when finishing strongly behind superstar Charles Darwin in the Norfolk Stakes last time. That was a smart performance he relishes this trip. A repeat of that would take him close. Sands Of Spain showed lots of zip when third in the Super Sprint at Newbury and still looked green so there should be more to come. Argentine Tango is proven at Listed level over 6f and could nick a place if the pace isn't too hot. 3.05 FIELD OF GOLD looks on a different level to his elders and can follow in his sire Kingman's hoofprints by winning the Sussex Stakes. We all know he should have won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket before he demolished his rivals in the Irish version before a bloodless success in the St James's Palace at Royal Ascot last time. There are no trip or ground worries and, while he hasn't tackled a tricky track like this before, there's no reason why he won't handle it. There are only two places thanks to the small field but I still fancy Docklands to make the frame. He survived his rider dropping the whip to take the Queen Anne ahead of Rosallion last time and there won't be a lot between them again. Rosallion already has a couple of Group 1s on his CV but it was a bit surprising that Docklands was able to hold off his challenge at Royal Ascot. Aidan O'Brien sends over his French 2,000 Guineas winner Henri Matisse who was a solid second to Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace without ever looking likely to win. He gets the three-year-old weight allowance off the older horses but needs a big step up to figure. Aussie raider Carl Spackler was a fair sixth in the Queen Anne and it will be a surprise if he turns that form around. 3.45 BINTJEDDAH finished like a train when second over a mile at Newmarket last time and this longer trip should be ideal. The handicapper has been fair with a 2lb rise and there's more to come for William Haggas. Quebella looks a threat having run well in a Listed contest here in June before going close in a decent handicap at Southwell. Her mark of 87 looks lenient and she's capable of figuring in this company. Model Yuko makes her handicap debut on the back of a bloodless maiden win at Wolverhampton. She looks all about stamina and should improve for this longer trip. Ashariba was just over a length off the pace at Newcastle latest and has solid turn form too. She's a contender in an open race along with Music Piece who travelled well over 1m4f at Ascot last time before his stamina gave way. Ralph Beckett has a good record in this so watch for any market move around his Power Of Destiny. Templegate's tips Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: