Wallabies star Tom Lynagh concussed in ‘disgraceful' act by British and Irish Lions captain
British and Irish Lions star Dan Sheehan has been cited for a 'disgraceful' act of foul play during the Wallabies' big win on Saturday night in Sydney.
The acting Lions captain will be forced to front an Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) hearing on Sunday after an ugly clean-out left Wallabies fly-half Tom Lynagh concussed.
It was a sad end to a hard-fought engrossing series as the Wallabies showed impressive courage to win 22-12 in a chaotic third Test interrupted by lightning.
However, the win has been soured somewhat by the ugly scenes of Lynagh failing his head injury assessment (HIA) following a shoulder to the head from Sheehan.
Commentators, including Wallabies great Tim Horan, and fans were left flummoxed that the cleanout from Lions player Dan Sheehan that led to Lynagh's injury went unpunished.
Many were stunned the incident was not looked at by the Television Match Official (TMO).
Leading Irish rugby journalist Rúaidhrí O'Connor wrote on X: 'Dan Sheehan is incredibly lucky this wasn't a red card'.
Aussie sport journalist Mark Gotlieb posted it was 'unforgivable by the TMO'.
The Times rugby reporter Will Kelleher pondered if it was a 'dodgy clearout'.
Rugby journalist Tom Decent wrote: 'Disgrace. Red card every day of the week. So dangerous.'
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Veteran rugby reporter Iain Payten posted: 'Match officials do nothing. Ya kidding at this point'.
Incredibly, Lynagh remained on the field for several more minutes before he was called off to undergo the HIA.
Irish hooker Sheehan faces a potential suspension.
World Rugby said in a statement: 'British & Irish Lions player Dan Sheehan will have a citing complaint reviewed by an Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) after being cited by the independent citing commissioner Adrien Menez for an act of foul play'.
In bouts of torrential rain at Sydney's Stadium Australia, the hosts went to the break with an 8-0 lead after an eighth-minute try before showing steely nerve to finish the job.
Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen both dotted down to put them 15-0 clear. The Wallabies had thrown away an 18-point advantage to lose the second Test in heartbreaking fashion last week, but learned their lesson.
They largely controlled the contest in front of 80,312 fans, swift at the breakdown and with plenty of attacking flair despite atrocious conditions.
'It was a disappointing week after such a tough loss,' Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said.
'To bounce back the way we did, I'm so proud of everyone. To get the win was so special.'
The teams were forced from the field two minutes into the second half because of a lightning warning, with play suspended for 35 minutes.
'We spoke about that before the game, that it could happen,' Wilson said.
'We had a few plans in place. We just wanted this game so badly, whatever we had to do we were going to do.'
Victory ensured the Lions' six-week visit ended in disappointment after winning all eight previous tour games.
'Our goal before the series was to try to win 3-0,' said Sheehan, who was the Lions acting captain after skipper Maro Itoje went off concussed.
'We gave it everything under harsh circumstances. The Wallabies have been in every Test and I thought they deserved the win.
'It was a bit disappointing on our end to finish with this.'
The Lions won the first Test comfortably 27-19 in Brisbane before clinching a controversial 29-26 series-winning victory in the last minute last week in Melbourne.
That loss was gut-wrenching for Joe Scmhidt's Australia, the head coach rallied his injury-hit troops to bank the biggest win of his tenure.
In doing so, they denied the Lions a first unbeaten series since 1974 and gained some much-needed confidence heading into the Rugby Championship this month.
Originally published as 'Disgraceful': Rugby rocked by foul play by Lions captain as Wallaby concussed
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