The Wallabies have been left devastated after a last-minute try to Hugo Keegan saw the Lions win an epic 29-26 at the MCG on Saturday night.
Despite the Wallabies opening up a 23-5 lead after 30 minutes, the Lions rallied to close to within six points at half-time and eventually overran Joe Schmidt’s men with less than 60 seconds on the clock.
After banging down the Wallabies’ defensive line, Keenan sealed the deal as the Irish fullback managed to barge his way over a retreating Len Ikitau.
Confirmation of the try came soon after as the Wallabies’ pleas to have an earlier cleanout looked at fell on deaf ears.
Hugo Keenan is mobbed by teammates after scoring the match-winning try for the Lions over the Wallabies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 26, 2025. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The controversy occurred as Lions flanker Jac Morgan flew into the ruck to try and protect the ball but collected his opponent Carlo Tizzano high.
After multiple replays, it was determined that both men were low and there was no illegal contact.
Respected pundit Morgan Turinui slammed the decision, saying the officials were “too weak” to overturn the match-winning moment.
“The end is a penalty to the Wallabies,” Turinui said on Stan Sport. “And the referees were too weak to give it.
“It doesn’t matter, you cannot hit a guy in the back of the neck to save the ball, who is legally jackaling. The referees have got it wrong.
“It has cost the Wallabies survival in the series. The British and Irish Lions lead this series 2-0. It was brave to come back from them, but it is a terrible decision that decides this match.”
Will Skelton and Maro Itoje get to know one another at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 26, 2025. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Before then 90,037 fans – the biggest crowd to ever watch the Lions play and the biggest on Australian shores in two decades – witnessed a compelling Test that left everyone on the edge of their seats.
Written off by those in the north, the Wallabies came out breathing fire and scored three tries in the opening 30 minutes to have the MCG rocking.
Inspired by the returns of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton, the Wallabies won the gain line battle and the backs came alive after a quiet opener in Brisbane where they had no front-foot ball to work with.
Tom Wright was outstanding while his Brumbies teammate Ikitau was equally strong.
But the Wallabies weren’t able to continue to play with the same ferocity and accuracy as the Lions clawed their way back in the minutes before half-time. It proved to be a fatal ten minute passage.
