Rugby Australia to seek answers from World Rugby over MCG call
Waugh's firm stance came after Schmidt slammed Italian referee Andrea Piardi for not awarding a match-defining penalty in the 79th minute of the Lions' 29-26 win in Melbourne.
Lions fullback Hugo Keenan scored in the last minute secure a series-clinching victory, but Schmidt came out swinging over an incident at the previous ruck, where Welsh flanker Jac Morgan cleaned out Carlo Tizzano with a hit on the back of the neck.
The Wallabies argued Morgan should have been penalised for breaching Law 9.20, which prohibits contact above the shoulders at a ruck. With the Wallabies leading by two points, a penalty would have likely seen the series go to a decider on Saturday at Accor Stadium.
Piardi reviewed the incident but ruled there it was not foul play because both players had arrived at the same time and Morgan had not used a shoulder.
Schmidt said Piardi appeared unwilling to make a big call in the last minute, and the decision 'doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they [World Rugby] are talking about.
'That decision, you only have to look at law 9.20. It's what they're there to enforce. 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.'
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin and chairman Brett Robinson were guests at the MCG, ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup events with Waugh and RA this week in Sydney.
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