Wallabies legend gives surprising verdict on ruckgate and reveals where the Lions really won it
Wallabies players dejected after second Test defeat to British and Irish Lions and legendary Australian centre Tim Horan.
Much of Australia may have been up in arms following the controversial end to the second Test against the British and Irish Lions, but Tim Horan was not one of them.
There was anger after Hugo Keenan’s try was awarded despite a potentially dangerous clearout in the ruck prior to the score.
However, the Wallabies legend felt that it was a “50/50” call and admitted it would have been a big decision to change the result of the match on something so marginal.
‘Referee did a very good job’
“The moment at the end of the game, it was a bit disappointing that we’ve focused a lot on that. There are a lot of people saying that it’s a penalty but, in my opinion, it’s probably 50/50,” Horan told The Breakdown.
“If you swap the teams around, would you be complaining as much about it?
“It was probably on the borderline of it being a penalty but, in a crucial time in the game, I thought the referee did a very good job, and right throughout the game.
“There were probably 10 or 12 rucks that he could have probably awarded the same penalty.
“I’m okay with it. Yes, it’s really disappointing for Wallabies fans and the team fought so hard. A controversial decision 30 seconds out from full-time probably cost the Wallabies but, in the end, you’ve just got to take that in sport.
“Maybe a call against the All Blacks will go our way!”
Horan instead wanted to celebrate what was an outstanding game of rugby as the Wallabies came so close to upsetting the Lions in front of a record crowd in Melbourne.
“I think sporting fans loved watching the game, it had a massive TV audience, it was live on free-to-air,” he said.
“It was an incredible Test match. There were 90,000 people at the MCG and what a Test for the Wallabies after what they did the week before at Suncorp Stadium against a very good Lions team.
“They stumbled in the first 15 or 20 minutes in the first Test but the second Test match was just incredible.
“The way that the Wallabies showed so much pride in that gold jersey and then what an amazing comeback from the British and Irish Lions to be down 23-5.
“They came back and scored those two quick tries, and I reckon that’s where the game was won.”
Bledisloe Cup hopes
Australia now need to prove that their second Test display was not a false dawn and at least gain a semblance of success in Sydney this weekend.
Should they manage to back up that performance then Horan is hopeful heading into the Rugby Championship.
Joe Schmidt’s men face the Springboks and Argentina in double headers before taking on the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup.
The Wallabies are desperate to win that trophy back, which would end 23 years of hurt, and Horan believes that they will be ready for that challenge.
“This year, we talk about is it a good opportunity for the Wallabies? It probably is, considering how well we went in Super Rugby and where this Wallabies team sits at the moment,” he added.
“By the time we play the All Blacks, we would have played another British and Irish Lions Test match and you’ve got two games in South Africa, two against Argentina.
“The All Blacks would have played a lot of Test matches as well. They (Wallabies) will be pretty tired by then but fit enough to take on an All Blacks team who I think are one of the best teams in the world with the Springboks.”