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Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
World Rugby boss rejects Schmidt's clearout claim
The boss of World Rugby has rejected Australia coach Joe Schmidt's claim that the decision at the end of the second Test against the British and Irish Lions contravened the sport's player welfare drive. The officials decided not to overturn Hugo Keenan's match-winning try after reviewing a clearout in the build-up from flanker Jac Morgan as the Lions edged a compelling contest at the MCG. As the Lions attacked near the Australia line, Morgan cleaned out Wallaby flanker Carlo Tizzano, who lurched backwards intimating he had been struck on the head as he tried to steal possession. The ball was then worked out to the left for Keenan to score, with referee Andrea Piardi sticking by his initial decision to award the try after consultation with the television match official (TMO). After the game, which the Lions won to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead, Wallabies coach Schmidt said it was a call that "didn't live up to" World Rugby's focus on player welfare. "I don't agree with that," World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast in Sydney. "I understand emotions are running high and I understand Joe's looking at specific laws and playing that into the sort of officiating and welfare debate. "But Joe knows well, and so do all the international coaches, that we are investing heavily [in player welfare], whether it's instrumented mouthguards across the professional game, whether it's all the investment we make in the science and research. "We're trying to find that really tricky but massively important balance between a sport that is a brilliant physical contest and as safe as it can be in for the players. It's a very tough balance. "One of the great wonders of rugby is the complexity of our laws and the interpretation of that. We know that creates controversy and sometimes frustration but it also gets everyone talking about rugby, and talking positively about rugby and what an amazing game it was." Morgan produced 'perfect' clearout - Owens Ringrose ruled out of third Lions Test 'Glorious Lions needed this battle to reveal another side of themselves' Gilpin wouldn't be drawn about whether figures at Rugby Australia had lodged a formal complaint, but said the referees' body had been going through their customary review of the game over the past few days and that the officials "stand by their decision". "We've got to back our referees and our match officials. And we do. They're making 800-plus decisions under incredible pressure in front of a global audience in a single game," he added. "And they don't get every decision right. But as long as they've gone through the right process and as long as they've got a decision that they can stand behind, then we'll support them." Meanwhile, Australia fly-half Tom Lynagh has asked whether any review findings into the decision should be made available to the public. "I think it's a grey area," Lynagh said on Tuesday. "I think it would be good for the public to know the final result. "But unfortunately it doesn't change the result of the fixture, the decision is final." Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has been among those vocal in the Australian media, saying it should have been a penalty against Morgan and the Lions for a dangerous ruck entry. But he adds that now is the time for the hosts to move on and focus on the third and final Test in Sydney this weekend. "It's the game, right," he told Rugby Union Weekly. "But these things happen and if being a player teaches you anything, it's that you have to move on. "I hope the Wallabies have had a couple of days just to grieve, get it over with, and to get mentally prepared to bring it this week." 'Lions need whitewash to be lauded for decades' - Dawson column 'Finish on a high' - Russell seeks 3-0 Lions clean sweep Get the latest updates from the Lions tour
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
World Rugby boss rejects Schmidt's clearout claim
The boss of World Rugby has rejected Australia coach Joe Schmidt's claim that the decision at the end of the second Test against the British and Irish Lions contravened the sport's player welfare officials decided not to overturn Hugo Keenan's match-winning try after reviewing a clearout in the build-up from flanker Jac Morgan as the Lions edged a compelling contest at the joined the back of a ruck near the 5m line and collided into Australia's Carlo Tizzano who lurched backwards in pain, claiming he had been struck on the back of the neck as he tried to lift the the ball was worked out to the left for Keenan to score, the television match official (TMO) checked the clearout and agreed with referee Andrea Piardi's initial decision to award the the game, which the Lions won to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead, Wallabies coach Schmidt said it was a call that "didn't live up to" World Rugby's focus on player welfare."I don't agree with that," World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast in Sydney."I understand emotions are running high and I understand Joe's looking at specific laws and playing that into the sort of officiating and welfare debate."But Joe knows well, and so do all the international coaches, that we are investing heavily [in player welfare], whether it's instrumented mouthguards across the professional game, whether it's all the investment we make in the science and research."We're trying to find that really tricky but massively important balance between a sport that is a brilliant physical contest and as safe as it can be in for the players. It's a very tough balance."One of the great wonders of rugby is the complexity of our laws and the interpretation of that. We know that creates controversy and sometimes frustration but it also gets everyone talking about rugby, and talking positively about rugby and what an amazing game it was." Gilpin wouldn't be drawn about whether figures at Rugby Australia had lodged a formal complaint, but said the referees' body had been going through their customary review of the game over the past few days and that the officials "stand by their decision"."We've got to back our referees and our match officials. And we do. They're making 800-plus decisions under incredible pressure in front of a global audience in a single game," he added."And they don't get every decision right. But as long as they've gone through the right process and as long as they've got a decision that they can stand behind, then we'll support them."Meanwhile, Australia fly-half Tom Lynagh has asked whether any review findings into the decision should be made available to the public."I think it's a grey area," Lynagh said on Tuesday. "I think it would be good for the public to know the final result."But unfortunately it doesn't change the result of the fixture, the decision is final."Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has been among those vocal in the Australian media, saying it should have been a penalty against Morgan and the Lions for a dangerous ruck he adds that now is the time for the hosts to move on and focus on the third and final Test in Sydney this weekend."It's the game, right," he told Rugby Union Weekly. "But these things happen and if being a player teaches you anything, it's that you have to move on."I hope the Wallabies have had a couple of days just to grieve, get it over with, and to get mentally prepared to bring it this week."
Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Debate over "that" try continues long after the Lions clinch a series win over Australia
Debate continued Sunday on a hemispheric basis over the last-minute try and absence of a penalty that sealed the British and Irish Lions' 29-26 win over Australia in the second test and a series victory with a match to spare. From the Northern Hemisphere, Jac Morgan's cleanout of Carlo Tizzano at the last breakdown Saturday was fair and perfectly executed. From the Southern Hemisphere, Morgan breached rugby's law 9.20 by striking Tizzano above the shoulders, which likely in most matches in the south would have been considered endangerment and would have been penalized. While the Lions woke with the sore heads of celebrants, the Wallabies were left to brood over what might have been. Australia coach Joe Schmidt was emphatic after the match that Italian referee Andrea Piardi had erred in not penalizing Morgan and ruling out the last-minute try to Hugo Keenan, which prevented the Wallabies from leveling the series. Piardi and his assistant referees closely studied replays of the final ruck before waving away the entreaties of Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and awarding the try. In explanation, Piardi said Tizzano and Morgan had arrived at the ruck at the same time, and their collision was part of the normal rough and tumble of the game. 'You just have to read law 9.20, and I guess you just have to listen to the description from the referee and then watch the vision,' Schmidt told a news conference after the match. 'When two players are described as arriving at the same time, just watch the footage. 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. You cannot hit someone above the level of the shoulders, and there's no wrapping with the left arm, the hands on the ground. That's what we've seen, and we've watched a number of replays from different angles. It is what it is. We just have to accept it.' From the northern perspective, Morgan makes contact with Tizzano below the neck and shoulders. It was, Lions coach Andy Farrell said, 'brilliant.' Some Lions fans even went as far as to accuse Tizzano of simulation by trying to exaggerate the incident to influence the referee. 'I thought it was a brilliant clear-out, honestly, didn't you? It depends on what side of the fence you come from,' Farrell said. '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 everything these days. But I'm so pleased that the referee held his nerve. It was the right decision in my opinion. I can understand people's opinions.' Wallabies and Lions fans clashed on social media long after the crowd of more than 90000 fans – the most ever to watch the Lions – had left the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Fans from the north and south agreed only that this had been one of the great test matches and most memorable of rugby occasions.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Dan Sheehan scores ‘Superman try' for Lions – but should it have been ruled out?
It would not be a tight Test match without a controversial try and the second tussle between Australia and the British and Irish Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground delivered on this as early as the 15th minute when Dan Sheehan bounded over a gang of defenders to score for the tourists. The Wallabies were incensed, with both Rob Valetini and Harry Wilson imploring referee Andrea Piardi to refer the incident to the television match official. However, the try was allowed to stand. What happened? During a concerted period of pressure for the Lions, Sheehan tapped a close-range penalty and leapt over two defenders, Dave Porecki and James Slipper, who had shot at the hooker's feet in a bid to execute a chop-tackle. From a similar situation just seconds previously, and at another penalty earlier in the tour, Sheehan had simply burrowed towards the floor to set up a ruck. Here, he took flight from around three metres out and jumped over Porecki and Slipper before dotting the ball down. "You can't do that" ROG not so sure, but Andrea Piardi explaining to the Aussies that Dan Sheehan is allowed to jump a tackle in the act of scoring a try — Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) July 26, 2025 Why were Australia angry? Law 9.11 states that 'players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others including leading with the elbow or the forearm, or jumping into or over a tackle.' Sheehan undoubtedly jumped into – and over – Australia's attempt to tackle him. Indeed, it could have been a planned attempt to capitalise on Sheehan's burrowing from earlier penalties. The Wallabies certainly expecting the Lions to set up a ruck. Why did the try stand? The grey area here is that while jumping into contact is illegal, players are permitted to dive for the try-line. In fact, as recently as June 23, World Rugby, issued a formal clarification regarding scenarios that have seen players bound over goal-line defenders or breakdowns to score in actions that would be more at home in American football. This is exactly what it said: 'These are potentially dangerous actions, so a player who attempts this and makes any contact with players already on the ground can be sanctioned under either of the following laws depending on where they are in relation to the try-line: · Law 15.16b: A player must not jump on top of a ruck; or · Law 9.11 which covers actions which are reckless or dangerous to others. 'We are mindful that previous clarification rulings, based on equity, have said players should be able to dive with the ball in the act of scoring, and so can be tackled providing it can be done safely. In these specific ruck situations, it would be difficult to either dive safely, or then be tackled safely.' In essence, Piardi and his officials determined that Sheehan's right to dive for the line trumped the danger of him hurdling defenders. Should the try have been allowed? The eye test was certainly jarring because we are unaccustomed to players leaping into tackles amid a crowd of bodies. Acrobatic dives for the try-line usually occur close to the corner flag. There can be little doubt that the carrier was jumping to avoid the tackle rather than simply to score. In that respect, the Lions were probably lucky that Sheehan's effort was not chalked off.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Sport
- Business Insider
Where to watch British and Irish Lions vs. Australia: Free live streams of the 2025 tour
The British and Irish Lions continue their 2025 tour with another test match against the Wallabies. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch British and Irish Lions vs. Australia, including free streaming options. Of the 23 match-ups between the two teams before 2025, the Lions have won 17, proving dominant in their head-to-heads. The teams last faced off for a three-match series in 2013, and the Lions won two of the three matches. So far, the Lions are up by one in their 2025 three-match series against the Wallabies following a 27-19 win on July 19 in Brisbane. Now, Australia will attempt to even the score in Melbourne. The final test match of the series will take place next weekend in Sydney. Whether you're rooting for the Lions or the Wallabies, we'll make sure you can tune in. Keep reading to learn about some of the best global streaming options. Where to watch British and Irish Lions for free The British and Irish Lions vs. Australian Wallabies match will be available for free on Channel 9 in Australia, which means that it will also be available to live stream for free through the 9Now streaming counterpart. Additionally, Paramount Plus will carry the game in the US, and the service offers a seven-day free trial. How to watch British and Irish Lions from anywhere If you'll be away from Australia during the match, you can still tune into the free streaming option with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are fast and easy-to-use tech tools that let people change their virtual locations. They're especially popular apps among those looking to access their usual websites and apps while traveling abroad and those hoping to upgrade their cybersecurity. If you're unsure where to start regarding VPNs, NordVPN is one of the best on the market. It's a top-rated service with an impressive suite of global servers, solid cybersecurity perks, and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for. You can learn more about the app in our NordVPN review. How to use a VPN Sign up for a VPN if you don't already have one. Install it on the device you're using to watch. Turn it on and set it to the location of your streaming service. Go to the streaming website, such as 9Now, and enjoy the match. Use a VPN to watch these events & shows free: All the items below have a free streaming option that can be unlocked from anywhere with a VPN. Set it to the corresponding country, and you're all set. MotoGP - various Love Island USA - various Love Island UK - various The Traitors - various Tour de France - various Where to watch British and Irish Lions in the US The Lions vs. Wallabies match will be available on the CBS Sports Network in the US. The cheapest way to live stream this comes via Paramount Plus. Subscriptions start at $8 a month, but the $13 a month Premium plan unlocks comprehensive live streaming and ad-free on-demand content, in addition to programming from Showtime. New users can try the service out for free for one week. Where to watch British and Irish Lions in the UK In the UK, the British and Irish Lions match against the Wallabies will be broadcast on Sky Sports. Prices vary depending on which plan and contract length you sign up for, but Sky TV plans with Sky Sports start at £22 a month on a 24-month contract. Users can also live stream Sky coverage through Now, which offers slightly more flexible plans, including a £15 day pass. Where to watch British and Irish Lions in Australia The British and Irish Lions test match against Australia will air on 9 in Australia. 9Now, the network's streaming counterpart, will offer free live streaming access. Users just need to create an account if they don't already have one, and then they're all set to start watching. Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
