"Baffling" – Ex-Referee Stunned Lions Star Avoided Card

Ex-IRFU referee Owen Doyle believes the decision at the hour mark – when the Lions were leading 24-10 – could have completely changed the flow of the game had it gone the other way.

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The incident in question involved a tackle on Ben Earl just before Joseph Suaalii crossed the whitewash. With the try potentially setting up a blockbuster finish in Brisbane, officials instead ruled against the Wallabies – a moment Doyle says may have denied fans a true contest down the stretch.

In his latest Irish Times column, Doyle wrote: “At a crucial moment, Joseph Suaalii had a try disallowed. The officials took an age to rule it out.

“I thought they would then penalise the Lions’ Ben Earl for a low, no-arms dangerous chop tackle on Suaalii, just moments before. It was another occasion when a Lions player flirted with a yellow card.

“It was similar to the modus of Luke Cowan-Dickie, a renowned specialist in this area, who, not for the first time, knocked himself into oblivion in the Lions’ match against the AUNZ Invitational XV.

“The officials somehow concluded that Earl had used his arms – both of them. It was a baffling, mystifying call when compared to what the replays showed.

“However, the officials did notice that Suaalii had not released the ball, just prior to getting over the line. With Earl on a generous get-out-of-jail card, it meant a relieving penalty kick for the Lions. It was a massive turnaround.”

These four players did their chances of test selection no favours as they underperformed in the match in Melbourne.

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Planet Rugby 5/10: "Had two of his passes picked off, the first led to a try while the second was damn close to costing the Lions again. That was just two of the four turnovers that he conceded in the first half alone. He got better in the second period and topped the running metres in the match while using his boot to good effect and finally nailed a long pass for a try assist. But frankly, today was his opportunity to claim a starting jersey on Saturday but didn’t."

Telegraph 3/10: "Surely played his way out of the Test squad, throwing two horrific intercepts. One delicious pass for Osborne’s second try but four turnovers is a black mark."

Verdict: Two horror intercepts, four turnovers, and a performance that screamed panic. Yes, there was a slick assist for Osborne, but it was too little, too late. Kinghorn looked rattled, and Farrell will have noticed.

Rugby Pass 4/10: "Got rinsed more times at scrum time than a white t-shirt with a pesky Bolognese stain. He wasn’t much better in contact, coughing up ball and metres. He’s had a fine tour, but this was an off-night."

Planet Rugby 3/10: "Comfortably bettered by Lington Leli in the scrums in the first half. When he left the pitch in the 51st minute, he had conceded three penalties and was quiet in open play. Sure, it was difficult at scrum time when Ryan was absent from the set-piece, but he had to do better. Unless there is an injury, that looks to be the end of his tour."

BALLS 4/10: "Had a nightmare in the scrum and conceded three penalties in the opening 40 minutes. Made little ground on his carries. Landed his four tackles."

RUCK 5.5/10: "Flew into a ruck off his feet, with Seru Uru battling beyond the Connacht prop for a 28th-minute penalty. Overwhelmed at a 33rd-minute scrum, as Lington Ieli won the FN&P a scrum penalty."

Verdict: A bruising reminder that tour form doesn’t always translate. Conceded ground and penalties in equal measure. Bealham looked miles off Test standard here.

Telegraph 5/10: "Highlight was an early scuffle with Uru and then a turnover at the end, otherwise fairly quiet. A tour that started with such promise has fizzled out."

BALLS 6/10: "Very quiet first half. Peeled off a couple of scrums when he was needed to dig the heels in. Got in a couple of jersey-grabbing scuffs."

Irish Times 6/10: "A vital breakdown penalty late on, won several lineouts, and managed to get in the face of the opposition, literally on one occasion. But he was quieter than usual in the unfamiliar role of number eight."

Verdict: Early aggression with Uru raised eyebrows, but his influence faded fast. One late turnover doesn’t cover for a game spent chasing shadows. Lions jersey might be slipping away.

Telegraph 3/10: "Tupou spread Schoeman like marmalade at scrum time. A few decent carries could not make up for his pasting up front."

The Scottish bulldozer was bulldozed. Though he trucked up a few carries, Schoeman was devoured in the scrum and outmuscled by the Wallaby wrecking ball. A chastening night.

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