MELBOURNE: Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt expressed his deep disappointment after his team lost to the British and Irish Lions 29-26 at the MCG, stating he felt "robbed" by the refereeing decisions during the intense second Test, which saw a record comeback from the Lions, who were down by 18 points at one stage, in front of a crowd of 90,307.
The nail-biting encounter concluded with veteran Irish fullback Hugo Keenan scoring a last-minute try, but the spotlight quickly shifted to Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano, who remained on the ground following a tackle by Lions player Jac Morgan. An investigation by the officiating team determined that both players arrived at the ruck simultaneously, and thus no foul play was established. However, Schmidt, who has an extensive understanding of rugby laws, contested this conclusion.
He stated, "You only need to read Law 9.2.0 and look at the footage. Two players arrive at the same time, yet one suffers injury." Despite admitting that errors happen in rugby, Schmidt argued that this specific decision contradicted current player safety protocols and questioned the legitimacy of a try scored by Lions hooker Dan Sheehan, who appeared to dive over two defenders.
The match’s aftermath saw Lions coach Andy Farrell celebrating Morgan’s cleanout as a "brilliant" play, intensifying Schmidt’s frustrations. As the Wallabies captain Harry Wilson sat next to Schmidt, he was visibly distressed, particularly as he listened to the victorious Lions sing celebration songs nearby.
Reflecting on the match, Wilson was proud of his team’s resilience after their earlier performance in Brisbane but lamented the missed opportunity to clinch the series, stating, "It hurts so much not to get the result…we’ll refocus on Sydney quickly." Although they cannot win the series, Wilson emphasised the importance of reclaiming pride in their final home Test.
This match, filled with emotional highs and lows, has left the Wallabies reflecting on crucial refereeing decisions and the enduring spirit of the game. Schmidt’s call for a reconsideration of officiating processes highlights the ongoing conversation about player safety and fairness in rugby.