Warren Gatland weighs into controversial series-winning try as ex-British and Irish Lions boss reveals Joe Schmidt frustration
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt and former British and Irish Lions boss Warren Gatland.
Former British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has weighed into the debate over the final try, which saw the tourists win the series.
Hugo Keenan crossed the whitewash in the final minute as the visitors moved 29-26 ahead and duly snatched the victory to go 2-0 up in the series.
However, the Wallabies were unhappy as they felt a penalty should have been awarded for Jac Morgan’s clearout on Carlo Tizzano.
It was reviewed via the TMO but he and the on-field match officials all agreed that Morgan was legal and the try should stand.
Joe Schmidt’s view
According to Gatland, head coach Joe Schmidt told him that he thought the Welshman should have been penalised, but the ex-Lions boss disagreed.
“He (Schmidt) felt it was a penalty,” he told Sky Sports, revealing what the Wallabies head honcho had said to him.
“I just think it was a clearout and I don’t know where Jac Morgan was supposed to go.
“He’s looked to wrap his arms, he’s gone low in height, he hasn’t tried to make contact with the head, it’s just a rugby incident. It’s just someone clearing out a ruck and I thought it was the right decision in the end.”
Former Scotland flanker John Barclay joined Gatland on the panel and agreed with the New Zealander that Andrea Piardi was correct to award the try.
“You can find that in almost every jackal scenario, someone getting hit in the back or the back of the neck and it’s just a timing issue. The referee had a look at it and made absolutely the right decision,” he said.
Australian anger
The opinions of Gatland and Barclay were in stark contrast to former Wallabies centre Morgan Turinui, who was absolutely incandescent at the end of the match.
Turinui was adamant that Australia should have been given a penalty, which would have kept them alive in the series ahead of the Sydney Test next weekend.
“The end is a penalty to the Wallabies, and the referees were too weak to give it,” Turinui said on Stan Sport.
“It doesn’t matter, you cannot hit a guy in the back of the neck, who is legally jackaling, to save the ball. 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.”
