Respected Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has slammed the decision to award the British and Irish Lions a match-winning try, saying officials failed to stand by their “big safety push” by opting not to penalise the Lions at the death.
Three years after the Wallabies were on the wrong end of another controversial call in Melbourne, Schmidt’s side was left devastated after losing in the final play as Irish fullback Hugo Keenan scored out wide to seal a dramatic come-from-behind 29-26 win in front of 90,037 at the MCG.
But the Wallabies were left stunned when officials decided not to penalise Welshman Jac Morgan for going off his feet recklessly at the ruck in a desperate attempt to clean out his opposite hard on-baller Carlo Tizzano, who flew backward and held his head after the dynamic breakdown moment.
Wallabies back-rower Carlo Tizzano receives medical attention following a contest in the final moments of the second Test at the MCG on July 26, 2025. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
Officials looked at the incident multiple times, before referee Andrea Piardi cleared the Lions of any wrongdoing.
The decision meant the Lions pulled off their greatest comeback ever, having come from 23-5 down to go ahead in the 80th minute.
But Schmidt was left livid at the call, saying it went clearly against World Rugby’s laws.
“I think everyone can make their own decision on that,” the former Irish head coach Schmidt said.
“You just have to read law 9.20 and you just have to listen to the description from the referee and then watch the vision when two players are described as arriving at the same time. Just watch the footage.”
Asked how the officials could get it wrong, Schmidt said: “Cause they are human. 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 [World Rugby] are talking about.
“You cannot hit someone above the level of the shoulders and there’s no bind with the left arm, his hand is on the ground. That’s what we have seen. We have watched a number of replays from different angles so it is what it is. We just have to accept it.”
Unsurprisingly, Lions coach Andy Farrell took a different view of the incident.
“I thought it was a brilliant clearout,” Schmidt’s former right-hand man said.
“It depends which side of the fence you come from. I can understand people’s opinions. I thought Jac was brilliant when he came on and so were the rest of the bench.”
Joe Schmidt addressed the Wallabies following their late defeat to the Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 26, 2025. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Schmidt, who spent a couple of years working with World Rugby before returning to the coaching fold in New Zealand, said he wasn’t surprised by Farrell’s comments but added that he didn’t want the moment to overshadow the gripping encounter.
“Not really, you’re always going to have one team that are euphoric, and they’ve worked really hard for this,” Schmidt said.
“I don’t want to detract from their performance. The way they built their way back, just describing Finn’s kick, the pressure they put on, I thought it was a real Test match.”
He added: “I think when they look back at the decision they made, they may or may not [take a different view].
“I spoke about one incident and I said in a world of player welfare, you only have to look at 9.20.
“That’s what they’re there to enforce, and a player who dives off his feet, is clearly beaten to the position over the ball, makes neck contact — it was a tough one to take.”
The three-point defeat meant the Lions took an unassailable lead in the three-match Test series ahead of next Saturday’s finale in Sydney.
