Latest news with #playerSafety
Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Rugby Australia want 'accountability' on late call in Lions test
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."
CNA
2 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Rugby Australia want 'accountability' on late call in Lions test
SYDNEY :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 but the Irish fullback only scored after Jac Morgan had cleared out Carlo Tizzano in a ruck in the buildup. The Wallabies wanted a penalty for high contact but 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 at the press conference were 100 per cent 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." Waugh will not have to go far to air his views with senior World Rugby officials in Sydney this week for events looking forward to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. 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 the match for 79 minutes. "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. "It's a massive match, going out there playing in front of your friends, for your family and your nation. We know there's so many things that we've got to improve on but there's some really good parts of that game. "There's definitely a sense of confidence in what we have done and, in general, what we want to do."
France 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Australia rugby boss seeks answers on controversial Lions try
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was fuming after the game in Melbourne on Saturday, adamant that Italian official Andrea Piardi got it wrong. Australia led for 79 minutes and were on the cusp of an upset when Hugo Keenan crossed at the death to seal an epic 29-26 comeback victory and the three-match series after the Lions won the first Test in Brisbane. Schmidt was adamant the try should not have stood, citing a high clean-out in the lead-up by Welsh flanker Jac Morgan on Carlo Tizzano. World Rugby rules state that contact made above the shoulders at the ruck is not allowed. Piardi reviewed the incident and ruled there was no foul play, but Rugby Australia chief executive Waugh backed Schmidt's interpretation. "We've got the utmost respect in respecting the referee's decision," Waugh told The Australian newspaper on Monday, adding that the Lions deserved praise for their comeback win. "But I do think there's a level of accountability and explanation that needs to come with that. And we look forward to that." In his post-match comments, Schmidt said the decision "doesn't really live up to the big player safety push" being made by World Rugby. "My response is absolutely identical to Joe's comments in the press conference," said Waugh. "I played professionally for 13 years and Joe's coached professionally for 20 years and both our views, and all those organisationally, are very aligned with what Joe talked to in that post-match press conference. "I look forward to World Rugby's response to it." © 2025 AFP
France 24
3 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Wallabies will not 'wallow in self-pity' after crushing Lions loss
Schmidt's men led for 79 minutes in Melbourne on Saturday and thought they had done enough to bank a sensational win and level the three-Test series. But Hugo Keenan's try at the death for a 29-26 victory left them shattered and fuming. Schmidt was adamant the try should not have stood, pointing to a high clean-out in the lead up by Jac Morgan on Carlo Tizzano. But their protests were waved away by Italian referee Andrea Piardi. Schmidt said contact was made above the shoulders, which made it illegal. "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," he said. "So that's what we've seen, and we've watched a number of replays from different angles, and so it is what it is. We just have to accept it." In contrast, Lions coach Andy Farrell saw nothing wrong with the incident. "I thought it was a brilliant cleanout," he insisted. Despite Schmidt's obvious frustration at seeing victory snatched from their grasp, he knows he must now lift the team for the third and final Test in Sydney next weekend. It is a dead-rubber, but pride is at stake for his young side who were a level up in Melbourne from their passive performance at the first Test in Brisbane. "I've told the team how proud I am of them. This group is growing. To stand up and deliver what they did against some of the world's best players, I was just immensely proud," said Schmidt. "They were broken at the end, but one of the things you've got to do is keep resolve and keep going forward. "We can't, and we won't, wallow in self-pity because we didn't get the result. "It's a blow in the short-term, but you can't get more motivated than what the players demonstrated here," he added. "I always felt we had the game to challenge them, and we showed that. I think their experience allowed them to stay in the contest and execute their plan." Schmidt was installed to restore Australia's reputation after they slumped to 10th in the world following a horror 2023 World Cup under Eddie Jones. His results have been a mixed bag so far, and he said it remained a work in progress. "We're trying to build consistency and a brand of rugby we enjoy playing," he said. "We're learning." © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallabies coach levels claim at officials as fans unload over contentious Lions win
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 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". Hugo Keenan scores the match-winner for The @lionsofficial 👏↳ The British & Irish Lions Tour. Wallabies v The Lions. Live & On-Demand. 4K.#StanSportAU #Lions2025 #LionsTour2025 — Stan Sport Rugby (@StanSportRugby) July 26, 2025 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." RELATED: Wallabies teammate floats major change as fans make Suaalii complaint Roosters fans get definitive answer as Joey Manu signs next contract 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." 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. HIGHWAY ROBBERYThe @wallabies robbed by 'weak'referees, says @MorganTurinui '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.' — Darren Walton (@DarrenWalton369) July 26, 2025 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
