'Disappointing' Joe Schmidt claim rebuffed by World Rugby after Lions clash

Irish Daily Mirror

4 days ago

World Rugby has dismissed Joe Schmidt's assertion that the decision not to sanction Jac Morgan's clearout during Australia's loss to the British and Irish Lions on Saturday goes against the sport's player safety standards.
Hugo Keenan crossed the line with 51 seconds remaining at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but the decisive try was only awarded after the TMO had examined Morgan's contact with Carlo Tizzano in the preceding ruck, which was eventually ruled lawful by referee Andrea Piardi.
An incensed Schmidt, whose Wallabies were narrowly beaten 29-26 to surrender the series with one Test remaining, maintained it was the incorrect decision, stating that "it doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they (World Rugby) are talking about".
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh supported Schmidt's position that it constituted a dangerous clearout and the try ought to have been ruled out.
World Rugby has been undertaking an investigation into the incident alongside Australia, the Lions and the match officials, which will be finalised ahead of Saturday's concluding Test between the sides in Sydney.
Chief executive Alan Gilpin, speaking at an occasion unveiling ticketing information for the 2027 World Cup, has responded to Schmidt's criticism.
"It's disappointing when the reaction is one of 'this means player welfare isn't taken seriously' because we have worked really hard on that narrative," said Gilpin, who disclosed that Schmidt will not face disciplinary action for his remarks. "Everyone knows we are putting player welfare, in its broadest sense, at the top of the agenda. Alan Gilpin (Image: Mark Metcalfe - World Rugby)
"You can see that from what we are doing with the instrumented mouthguards, all the research, the science, the investigations.
"The way the laws of the game have evolved in the last few years is all about 'how do we have this great physical contest, but make it as safe as possible?'. That part is challenging, in terms of the player welfare statements."
Gilpin maintains that Piardi and his colleagues Ben O'Keeffe and Nika Amashukeli are receiving full backing following the fierce criticism directed at the officiating team from certain sections.
The World Rugby chief referenced Rassie Erasmus' scathing public attack on Nic Berry during the Lions' tour to South Africa in 2021, along with the harrowing experiences of former referee Wayne Barnes, who has opened up about the vile abuse directed at his family, to emphasise the crucial need to shield match officials.
"It's just making them realise they're supported and that we are checking in on them. They're a great unit. They've been together on this tour as a team," Gilpin said.
"You'll recall that in the last Lions series in South Africa, when the match official in the first Test was very heavily criticised...the mental health challenges..
"Wayne Barnes has talked about it. We've got match officials who, when they're criticised publicly, see their families targeted outside the school gates.
"That's not good, that's not fair and that's not right, so we've got to support these guys."
Australia 2027 has unveiled its ticketing strategy for the upcoming World Cup, with supporters given the opportunity to sign up for presale access starting from Tuesday.