Andy Farrell and Joe Schmidt had different opinions on the referee's decision to disallow Hugo Keenan's game-winning try in the dying minutes of the game, which saw the British and Irish Lions end their winning streak against Australia.
The Lions won 29-26 in the second Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but there was a tense situation in the dying moments when the umpires reviewed a potentially dangerous clearance by Jack Morgan earlier in the game.
Captains Harry Wilson and Maro Itoje attempted to influence referee Andrea Piardi during the decision-making process before it was eventually decided that Morgan's contact with Carlo Tizzano was permissible.
Had Keenan's try been disallowed, the series decider would have been played in Sydney the following week. Instead, the Lions held a comfortable 2-0 lead.
“It was a great cleanup. I couldn't understand why they were coming back,” Lions coach Farrell said.
“They seem to be willing to reconsider every decision these days, don't they? I'm very glad the judge was patient. In my opinion, it was the right decision.”
Furious Australia head coach Schmidt felt that Piardi's decision was at odds with the game's governing body's efforts to improve player safety and accused the Italian of not complying with the rules.
“Just watch the tape,” Schmidt said, insisting the last-minute incident influenced the final decision.
“You just have to read rule 9.20 and listen to the referee’s explanation and then look at the footage where it says two players arrived at the same time.
“It is forbidden to hit a person above shoulder level, and there is no grabbing of the left hand, his palm lies on the ground. This is what we observed.”
“We've seen several replays from different angles, so that's what it is. We just have to accept it.
Players make mistakes. Referees make mistakes too. We believe this decision does not meet the stated requirements for player safety.
Schmidt also singled out Dan Sheehan's effort in the 16th minute, when he took a free kick quickly and leapt over the goal line.
The try was awarded because he dived as he took the shot, but Schmidt insisted his position in the air made him virtually unstoppable.
“World Rugby are keen for us to tackle lower so two players tried to tackle him lower and he dived and scored,” the New Zealander said.
“He's basically heading the ball forward, so what can we do to stop him scoring other than stop his header? There's nothing else to do.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
