Lions fans in disbelief with ref's call on Hansen Incident

Extra.ie​

a day ago

Jonathan Browne
05/07/2025
The Lions had a big scare but were able to bring home to a 21-10 win over the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday morning.
The try scoring got underway quickly in New South Wales as the two Scottish centres Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones linked up beautifully for a try after 11 minutes. The 'Tahs offered stern residence thereafter though and had a try of their own off the back of the maul. However the try was chalked off by referee Paul Williams due to obstruction from Waratahs lock Fergus Lee-Warner.
Lions would work their way back up to the other end of the pitch before it was that man again Huw Jones who did brilliantly to step around the Tah's defender before touching down for his and the Lions' second try of the game. Huw Jones of British & Irish Lions celebrates after scoring his side's first try Pic: Steve Christo/Sportsfile
However the Waratahs eventually got their try just a minute later as winger Darby Lancaster got the better of the collision with Hugo Keenan before crawling over for a try of his own. — Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 5, 2025
However this is where the controversy begins. Viewers spotted that in the ruck leading up to the try Connacht and Ireland winger Mack Hansen was hit in the head by the shoulder of Waratahs lock Fergus Lee-Warner. It was caught by the TMO and it was reviewed . The replays showed that Hasnen, although very low himself was still hit in the head by a leading shoulder and Lee-Warner made very minimal effort to wrap his arms.
So many expected the Waratahs to have yet another try disallowed but to many people's surprise Paul Williams felt that it was a legal ruck action and kept with his on-field decision. The controversial clear out in the leading to Darby Lancaster's try for the Waratahs Pic: Sky Sports
This decision shocked the Sky Sports punditry with Sam Warburton disagreeing with the decision and Ronan O'Gara saying there was 'concrete evidence' to rule out the try. It was a decision which caught the ire of many fans online as well.
How any referee can say that was a legal clean out of Mack Hansen is unbelievable. Clear hit to the head. In live play maybe but having time to look at it in replay & still come to that conclusion is Baffeling.
British &Irish Lions — Mícheál Ó Gallchobhair (@itsskitime) July 5, 2025
Shocking decision. Hansen was absolutely smashed in the head there. #Lions2025 — John Caulfield (@johnluxir) July 5, 2025
The Lions would get an even bigger scare after the break as the Waratahs closed the gap to just four points as Ethan Dobbins scored to make it 14-10 to the Lions. That was before Alex Mitchell stepped up and really got the Lions' attack going again before he was able to cross over for the final try of the game and ultimately giving the Lions the 21-10 win.
This was by far the sloppiest performance Andy Farrell's side has put in so far. They'll really need to find a way to tighten things up and make less unforced errors come the Wallabies tests in just two weeks' time.