Veteran referee Wayne Barnes weighs-in on crucial call that cost the Wallabies the series

The world's most capped Test referee has delivered his verdict on the controversial series-deciding call which crushed Wallabies' hopes in the second Lions Test.

Former leading referee Wayne Barnes has weighed into the controversy surrounding the Lions’ late match-winner at the MCG on Saturday, saying the onfield call regarding Jac Morgan’s cleanout of Carlo Tizzano was the right one.

Wallabies fans remain enraged two days after referee Andrea Piardi decided Morgan’s high clean out on Tizzano didn’t merit a penalty.

The non-call allowed fullback Hugo Keenan to score a late match-winning try that also sealed the series for the tourists.

Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh says he’ll ask for an explanation from World Rugby officials in Sydney this week, but veteran whistleblower Barnes says Piardi’s decision was correct, arguing that the existence of high contact doesn’t necessarily mean there has been foul play.

Writing in the UK’s Telegraph, Barnes – who took charge of 111 Tests in a 20-year refereeing career – commended the officiating trio of Piardi, Ben O’Keeffe and Nika Amashukeli for their onfield decision making, and unwillingness to rely too heavily on the TMO.

Morgan prepares to hit Tizzano in the series-deciding play. Picture: Getty

“When the team of officials met in the middle of the pitch to discuss the match-defining incident, with 90,000 spectators listening to every single word, Piardi began by explaining that Jac Morgan and Carlo Tizzano arrived at the same time,” Barnes wrote.

“O’Keeffe added to the dramatic discussion that ‘it was dynamic’ and Morgan was ‘wrapping’. Piardi then summarised the thoughts of all three – ‘It’s play-on for us’.

“Dan Biggar, on Sky Sports’ commentary, asked: ‘Where could he go?’ and when Ronan O’Gara was asked what he was seeing he replied quickly: ‘Very little.’

“I couldn’t have agreed more with the two ex-internationals.

“Rugby is a dynamic game with lots of moving parts and yes, player safety is at the heart of everything the game is currently doing, but these things happen. It’s worth re-emphasising that every time there is head contact, it does not mean that there is foul play.

“What I do know is that many people will have their own opinions about the final decision, but I thought it was a decision that showed these three officials have a wonderful feel for the game.”

Tizanno feels the after effects of the controversial hit. Picture: Getty

Barnes also suggested a contentious clearout call from game one may have impacted their decision making.

“I actually thought the Tadhg Furlong clean-out in the first Test was not foul play either, though he was penalised for a clean-out on Len Ikitau, the Australia centre,” he wrote. “Furlong’s was dynamic; he attempted to wrap and I wasn’t sure what else he could have done.

“Perhaps this was one decision that Piardi, O’Keeffe and Amashukeli looked at in the build-up to the second Test. Refs, like players, learn from their previous decisions too.”

Barnes, who retired from refereeing in 2023 after a record-breaking career, is now a lawyer and supporter of match officials across many professional codes.

He’s also no stranger to controversy.

The Englishman was dubbed the “most hated man in New Zealand” after missing a forward pass from French forward Damien Traille to Freddie Michalak in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff.

Not afraid of the big moment - Barnes shows All Blacks captain Sam Cane a red card in the 2023 RWC Final. Picture: Getty

The non-call allowed Yannick Jauzion to score as France claimed an historic victory, while Michalak earned the nickname “Forward Pass Freddie” across the ditch.

It wasn’t the end of Barnes’ run-ins with the All Blacks.

In 2023, he once again found himself at the centre of controversy for his officiating of the World Cup final between New Zealand and South Africa in Paris.

Barnes dished out four cards, including a second minute sin-binning of Kiwi backrower Shannon Frizell and a 27th minute send-off of captain Sam Cane as the Boks hung on to a 12-11 win in Paris.

He also binned South Africa’s Siya Kolisi and winger Cheslin Kolbe, but still copped it from angry All Blacks supporters.

Barnes later revealed he and his family were the victims of “vile” social media abuse following the final, and he retired from refereeing a few days later.

Originally published as Veteran referee Wayne Barnes weighs-in on crucial call that cost the Wallabies the series