Eddie Jones has voiced his belief that the British and Irish Lions, rather than the Wallabies, were the team wronged by referee Andrea Piardi during their match at the MCG. In a conversation on the Rugby Unity podcast alongside former Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie, Jones pointed to the controversial decision that allowed Lions fullback Hugo Keenan’s try to stand. This stemmed from Jac Morgan’s seemingly questionable cleanout of Carlo Tizzano, which was ultimately ruled legal.
Jones remarked that negating such a cleanout could undermine ruck play in rugby. He noted that while Morgan may have caused a head impact, the action itself was beyond reproach. He described Piardi’s overall officiating as competent, suggesting that the Lions had legitimate concerns regarding a try scored by Wallabies halfback Jake Gordon. He argued that Piardi’s positioning obstructed Lions players Andrew Porter and Ollie Chessum during the play, which led to the try.
McKenzie concurred with Jones, stating that in rugby league terms, the try should not have counted because Porter was unable to tackle. Both insiders opined that there was a need for referees to be trained better on positioning to avoid influencing outcomes in the defence line.
They noted the dominance of the Wallabies throughout the first half, emphasising that Australia enjoyed better possession and penalties, alongside a yellow card issued to Lions winger Tommy Freeman for persistent infractions. The third and final Test will take place in Sydney, where the Lions are keen to achieve their first series clean sweep since 1927.
In summary, Jones and McKenzie highlighted the need for clearer officiating and positional training for referees while defending the integrity of the game amidst contentious calls.