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Australia Joe Schmidt boss left baffled by late TMO call after series defeat to Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions

Australia Joe Schmidt boss left baffled by late TMO call after series defeat to Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions

The Irish Sun6 days ago
AUSTRALIA boss Joe Schmidt believes his side were hard done by in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions at the MCG.
The former
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Aussie boss Joe Schmidt was left raging after the TMO's decision to award the late try that snatched a late win for the touring Lions
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Hugo Keenan scored the winner for the Lions as the claimed victory in the Test series
The
And especially over a controversial clear-out by Lions replacement flanker Jac Morgan in the lead-up to
But Leinster man's 80th-minute try was awarded, and it was the first time the Lions had been in front in an enthralling contest after a late surge from Andy Farrell's men.
The Ireland full-back's try sealed 29-26 win for the tourists.
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But Aussie boss Schmidt was less than impressed with the referee's call.
He said: 'We led for 79 minutes and I couldn't quite believe that we didn't get a decision at the end to lead for 80.
"But you know that's the wicked backlash that sport can have sometimes,' he remarked.
'I think it was described as arriving at the same time and we can all see that's not the case.
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"We can all see clear contact with the back of the neck which might be a different decision on another day and another time.'
'I'm just gutted. I've been gutted a few times in my coaching career, but that is right up there.
Australia 26 British and Irish Lions 29- Historic Test series whitewash on the cards as Lions complete epic comeback
"Sometimes you just don't get what you earn, and I felt we earned more than what we got.'
The final test takes place next Saturday at 11am IST in Sydney.
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Ireland hero keen for third Lions test to be unforgettable
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Ireland hero keen for third Lions test to be unforgettable

Tadhg Furlong is set on making Saturday's third Test against Australia a memorable one, as it will likely be his last appearance for the British and Irish Lions. Although Furlong hasn't completely dismissed the possibility of a fourth tour, he acknowledges that the Accor Stadium showdown is probably the final chapter in his Lions journey, marked by his nine consecutive Test starts. When reminded that he would be 36 years old for the next tour to New Zealand, the Ireland prop responded: "Just about to turn 37. Could you imagine? 'My motivation is obvious. I'm not going to say I won't….I probably won't play for the Lions again. 'The Lions have been very good to me. They've been very good to my career. You want to play well. 'I'm kind of leaving a lot of that emotional stuff behind, without being clinical about it. You want to give the best version of yourself to it. 'Sometimes the last memory is the lasting memory you have in a jersey. I want it to be a good one.' Only seven other players have made nine successive Test starts and Furlong is the second to reach that mark in the professional era, a startling achievement for a tighthead who will return home as a Lions great. Willie John McBride heads the list with 15. 'It wasn't something I overly thought of or knew about. I just wanted to try to get on tour and play rugby and see where it got me,' Furlong said. 'It's class to be up there. When I was young and you think of Lions, you don't see yourself there to be mentioned in the same breath as them – and I probably feel the same way now.' Furlong's first tour was as a 24-year-old to New Zealand in 2017 and his development as a player in the intervening years has been significant. 'The game has changed, definitely. Rugby was so different back then. You're around the corner, you're just working hard and then the game got into one-out carriers and I found my mould there,' he said. 'Then the game changed to more of a pass and options at the line and that changed my game. At the minute it's changed into a hybrid of all of them at the minute. You try to change your game as the game changes.' The series was won with a game to spare following last Saturday's 29-26 victory in Melbourne, posting the first successful tour since the 2013 visit to Australia. 'It's such a hard thing to do and history tells you that. When you play for the Lions, you understand why, in terms of moulding everyone together and trying to get them on the same track, and the schedule and travel,' Furlong said. 'As an achievement, as a team, there's not a massive body of work. You have eight weeks of work to show for it. It's probably one of the more satisfying achievements that I've been a part of.'

'I probably won't play for the Lions again. I want this to be a good memory'
'I probably won't play for the Lions again. I want this to be a good memory'

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  • The 42

'I probably won't play for the Lions again. I want this to be a good memory'

EVEN THOUGH HE jokes that he'd prefer if Tadhg Furlong wasn't starting for the Lions tomorrow, Joe Schmidt has as much respect for the Wexford man's achievement as anyone else. Starting nine Lions Tests in a row in a magnificent feat, all the more so in a position as demanding as tighthead prop. At the age of 32, Tadhg Furlong is already a great of Irish rugby, even if being a prop means he won't be as regularly mentioned as others in those kinds of discussions. And the Leinster man's status as a Lions legend is now well beyond debate. 'He's such a gifted player and such a good character,' said Wallabies boss Schmidt, who was the Leinster head coach when Furlong joined the province. 'The first time I met him, he came in with his Mum and Dad with Collie McEntee, who was coaching the Leinster academy. I was coaching there, and he got brought into the office and introduced himself. He blocked the sun briefly, and those shoulders haven't got any smaller since. 'He's certainly an impressive young man and a world-class player, so if he wants a day off on Saturday I'd be happy to see that.' Schmidt remembers tough times for Furlong at the start, initially due to injuries and then the kind of teething problems that any young prop faces in professional rugby. Ireland's tour of South Africa in 2016 was 'a baptism of fire' for Furlong at scrum time, recalled Schmidt, but he soon began to thrive and by 2017, he was the Lions' first-choice tighthead. Furlong and Schmidt with Ireland in 2017. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO Schmidt gave Furlong his Ireland debut in 2015 and benefited massively from the Wexford man's 'multi-purpose' ability in the years that followed. 'I'll never forget the deft little offload he gave to Bundee Aki to go through a gap to give CJ Stander a try at Twickenham [in 2018],' said Schmidt. 'Those skills he has with the ball, his ability to carry himself, and he's very good, quite dynamic in the defensive line. 'We were here [in Australia] on tour in 2018 and I remember David Pocock was just about to decide to get over the ball and Tadhg Furlong put him back a couple of metres from the ball. Advertisement 'He's a pretty well-rounded, literally well-rounded, character.' Furlong himself would probably laugh at that last tongue-in-cheek comment from Schmidt. He has always come across as someone with an endearing, self-depracating humour. Not that he's not entirely serious about his craft. Furlong's work ethic and resilience have helped him to get to this point of a huge achievement with the Lions. He is a smart rugby player, someone whose role in the Ireland and Lions leadership groups isn't about shouting and roaring, but more about providing calm messages and contributing to discussions around how the team should play. Not all tighthead props are as tactically aware as Furlong. Even the way he describes how he has had to change with the game across three Lions tours illustrates that. 'Rugby was so different back then,' said Furlong of his first tour in 2017. 'You're around the corner, you're just working hard and then the game kind of got into one-out carriers and I found my mould there. Furlong celebrates the Lions' second Test win. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO 'Then the game changed to more of a pass and options at the line and it kind of changed my game. 'And it's changed in a way to a hybrid of all of them at the minute, I feel. So, you try to change your game as the game changes.' Many people doubted that Furlong would get to this point where he has started all three of the Tests on this tour. That was down to the recurring hamstring and calf issues he had all season, meaning he only played once for Ireland and eight times for Leinster. But Furlong always had faith he would be right for the Lions tour. 'It wasn't a big enough injury to warrant it,' said Furlong. 'It was like, we need to get back and play here, lads, because it's on your calendar. You want it so badly. I think the cruel thing is when you go on one, you just want to go on more. You go on that first one, and you take it all in. 'The second one is kind of like you want to perform and the third one, you just want to appreciate it all because you don't want it to pass you by, you know that kind of way? 'There was a stage this season where we were having conversations with medical staff. It's like, 'What is going on here? We need to nip this stuff in the bud.' They managed to do that, and Furlong has thrived. Lions boss Andy Farrell had faith that the experienced tighthead would deliver on the big occasions. Furlong at the Lions captain's run today. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Furlong has been rooming with Ireland and Leinster team-mate Thomas Clarkson this week as the latter continues to gain valuable experience while remaining on tour with Farrell's men. There's no one better for Clarkson to be learning from. Furlong is still only 32 and he'll hope that this tour is only the start of a period of better luck on the injury front. But he senses that tomorrow's Test will be his final one for the Lions. 'I'm not going to say I won't, I probably won't… I probably won't play for the Lions again. 'It's been very good to me. It's been very good to my career. You want to play well in it. 'I'm kind of leaving a lot of that emotional stuff behind us. Without being clinical about it, you want to give the best version of yourself to it. 'Sometimes the last memory is the lasting memory you have in a jersey. I want it to be a good one.'

Wallabies forced into change against Lions as Porecki withdraws
Wallabies forced into change against Lions as Porecki withdraws

The 42

time4 hours ago

  • The 42

Wallabies forced into change against Lions as Porecki withdraws

THE WALLABIES HAVE been forced into making a change to their starting XV for tomorrow's final Test against the Lions in Sydney [KO 11am Irish time, Sky Sports] after hooker Dave Porecki suffered a heel injury at training yesterday. Porecki had been named in the Wallabies' number two jersey for the last Lions clash but that shirt now goes to 23-year-old Billy Pollard, who has been lively off the bench in recent weeks. Matt Faessler, who started the first Lions Test, was also injured in training yesterday and his calf strain means he too has been ruled out of tomorrow's game. As such, Australia head coach Joe Schmidt has called Western Force hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa straight into the matchday 23 as the replacement hooker. Advertisement This will be Paenga-Amosa's first Wallabies appearance of the season, having last played for Schmidt's side in their November Test defeat to Ireland last year. Paenga-Amosa featured for both the AUNZ XV and the First Nations & Pasifika XV in their warm-up games against the Lions. The Wallabies had already lost flanker Rob Valetini, tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa, and wing Harry Potter to injury after last weekend's second Test, while Schmidt decided to leave back row Carlo Tizzano out after his involvement in the last ruck of the game in Melbourne. Wallabies (v Lions): 15. Tom Wright 14. Max Jorgensen 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 12. Len Ikitau 11. Dylan Pietsch 10. Tom Lynagh 9. Nic White 1. James Slipper 2. Billy Pollard 3. Taniela Tupou 4. Nick Frost 5. Will Skelton 6. Tom Hooper 7. Fraser McReight 8. Harry Wilson (captain) Replacements: 16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa 17. Angus Bell 18. Zane Nonggorr 19. Jeremy Williams 20. Langi Gleeson 21. Tate McDermott 22. Ben Donaldson 23. Andrew Kellaway Referee: Nika Amashukeli [GRU].

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