Rugby rediscovered common sense - and it robbed the Wallabies

The Wallabies are seething, and it’s easy to see why. In a common-sense world, the Jac Morgan cleanout on Carlo Tizzano in the dying moments of the Wallabies’ 29-26 shouldn’t be a penalty - the Welshman was low enough to generate the power to drive through Tizzano and get him off the ball.

But that is not the way rugby has been officiated for years. Anyone who has watched any volume of rugby for the past six years has seen similar incidents, or less, pored over incessantly by TMOs, producing penalties or even cards. Fans know, coaches know it and players know it - in fact TMOs are obliged to come in if a player is exhibiting signs of head contact. It was therefore an extraordinary moment for rugby to rediscover its common sense, and that is why former Wallabies and Lions were vehemently opposed in their reading of the incident - in a sense they were both right.

One of the match officials, Ben O’Keeffe, could be heard on the microphone saying, “There may have been head contact but there was no foul play”. Wallabies captain Harry Wilson produced one of the greatest leaves in MCG history when he opted not to comment on the incident post-match. There was little wonder the bloke was confused and upset.

Carlo Tizzano and Jac Morgan collide at the breakdown.Credit: Stan Rugby

Wallabies beaten by the bench

 Irrespective of the Tizzano-Morgan incident, it would be churlish not to give the Lions their due credit for staging a comeback. At 23-5, they looked cooked but the heart sank when Tom Lynagh dropped a relatively straightforward high ball in the 32nd minute. In the following eight minutes before halftime, the Lions scored 12 points.

That little sniff was all they needed, and although Lynagh has proved his chops over the past two Tests, moments like that are coach killers. A penalty conceded by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in those moments added to the Lions’ momentum.

But the real swing came when the Lions were able to roll on props Ellis Genge and Will Stuart in the final quarter. Stuart gave a good impression of a massive barrel rolling downhill in the latter stages, and the Wallabies just didn’t have anyone who could put a shoulder on and stop those damaging runs.

Skelton’s best in a Wallabies jersey

The big lock was enormous at the MCG, and it is hard not to speculate what the Tests would have looked like with a fully fit and firing Skelton and Rob Valetini available from the outset.

Will Skelton takes on the Lions defence.Credit: Getty Images

Skelton is now 33, but it was arguably the first time that his Test-changing qualities have been apparent in a big Test. A couple of daunting Tests against the Springboks in South Africa are not far off, and Skelton is a non-negotiable selection based on what he produced in Melbourne. He almost singlehandedly brought respect back into the jersey. It was a genuine show of passion that clearly lifted those around him, but if that calf is playing up then Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has to be entrusted with a similar role.

The whitewash is avoidable

The Lions are well led. Among the jubilation of the series win, captain Maro Itoje also identified their high error rate in the first half. There would have been heavy celebrations after the MCG Test, but they’ll turn up ready for business in Sydney next weekend and can clearly get a selection lift from replacing some of their struggling players such as winger James Lowe.

But the Wallabies showed enough at the MCG to suggest that they can deprive the Lions of the 3-0 series win they have clearly targeted from the outset. Some of the Wallabies’ attacking breakdown work in the first half was excellent, Nick Frost was exceptional at lineout time, and it is now becoming apparent that the Wallabies have a bit more magic dust in the back three. Max Jorgensen is an elite talent and Tom Wright rediscovered his top form, and Harry Potter’s hamstring injury may yet nudge Suaalii to the wing, where he might get a touch more space to unleash his running game.

The Lions will be back

All the talk about taking the Lions tour away from Australia ignores the fundamentals: the country is clearly still a beloved destination for tourists, enjoys ample corporate support and strong state government backing, and has incredible facilities.

Everyone would love the Wallabies to be better but the MCG Test gave an insight into their true capacity. There have been murmurs about the Lions going to France, but that would be a pointless re-run of the Six Nations, and good luck to the Lions committee finding where all the money went after the French municipalities and clubs clip the ticket.

There is also a bigger picture at play here. Presumably, the home unions would still like Wallabies to be filling their stadia every November for the next 12 years, given that their business models are effectively commercial property management. A healthy Rugby Australia is a mutually beneficial outcome.

All matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.