MELBOURNE: Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt expressed his frustration after a narrow 29-26 defeat to the British and Irish Lions at the MCG, deeming his side "robbed" by the match officials. In front of a crowd of 90,307, the Lions staged a remarkable comeback from an 18-point deficit, with veteran fullback Hugo Keenan scoring the decisive try.
The controversy arose from a decision concerning a cleanout by Lions flanker Jac Morgan, which Italian referee Andrea Piardi and French TMO Eric Gauzins ruled carried no foul play. Schmidt disagreed vehemently, citing his thorough understanding of rugby laws. “You only need to look at the footage to see that our player was clearly beaten to the ball,” he stated during a press briefing. “It’s disappointing to see a decision that seems to contradict the principles of player safety that are so frequently discussed.”
Schmidt lamented the implications of the ruling, especially given Tizzano’s apparent injury during the play. He also flagged concerns about a first-half try from Lions hooker Dan Sheehan, questioning whether it should have stood given the conditions in which it was scored.
While Schmidt voiced his frustrations, Lions coach Andy Farrell praised Morgan’s performance, calling the cleanout "brilliant." The disappointment was palpable for Wallabies captain Harry Wilson, who sat beside Schmidt, forced to listen to the victorious Lions sing in celebration nearby.
Reflecting on the match, Wilson expressed pride in his team’s resilience after their previous game against the Lions in Brisbane, but the loss weighed heavily on him. "It’s painful not to secure the series decider," he shared, acknowledging the emotional toll of their efforts. Despite the setback, he emphasised the importance of focusing on the upcoming Test in Sydney, aiming to leave a positive mark in front of their home crowd.
As the Wallabies regroup for the next match, the sting of this defeat, compounded by the contentious officiating decisions, will undoubtedly loom large in their preparations.