Lions vs Australia referee paid the price as Nigel Owens’ call for ‘accountability’ is heard

Friday, 25 July 2025 at 07:05

byRugby Rucker

Lions vs Australia referee. Andrea Piardi has been named referee for the second Test between the British & Irish Lions and Australia this Saturday — just months after a controversial performance that left Munster fans fuming.

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Who is the Lions vs Australia referee?

The 32-year-old Italian will become the first from his country to officiate a British & Irish Lions Test, continuing his rapid rise in world rugby after stepping onto the elite stage in 2019.

Piardi, a mechanical engineering graduate from Brescia, began his top-level journey in the United Rugby Championship and made his international debut in 2019, refereeing Germany vs Spain in Cologne. Since then, he’s gone from strength to strength, becoming a regular assistant referee and Italy’s sole representative at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

He capped off a stellar 2023 with the whistle for the URC Final between the Stormers and Munster — but it was a return trip to Thomond Park earlier this year that sparked major backlash.

Controversial call in Limerick

In a URC clash between Munster and the Bulls in April, Piardi made two critical errors that left fans and pundits scratching their heads.

First, following injuries to both of Munster’s tighthead props — Oli Jager (HIA) and Stephen Archer (contact injury)— scrums went uncontested. However, Piardi mistakenly reduced Munster to 14 men, incorrectly applying a law that only applies when both injuries are due to contact.

The Irish province battled a man down for 14 minutes before officials finally intervened, allowing Alex Kendellen to re-enter the fray. By then, the damage was done — and though the Bulls didn’t score, Munster’s momentum stalled.

To make matters worse, the Bulls' only try came after Cameron Hanekom tapped a penalty off his thigh, which by law should’ve been a knock-on. The error went unpunished, and the Bulls went on to claim a historic 16-13 win, becoming the first South African side to beat Munster at Thomond Park.

The fallout was swift.

Piardi was dropped from the following week’s round of URC appointments, and the online reaction was brutal. One fan wrote: “Find a new profession.”

Owens calls for transparency

Rugby legend and URC referee manager Nigel Owens later addressed the situation, calling for more accountability and openness around refereeing standards.

“If a ref clearly gets it wrong and it costs a team, coaches want to see accountability,” Owens said in his WalesOnline column. “You drop a player after a poor performance — why not a ref?”

Still, Owens defended the system, reminding fans that “form is temporary, class is permanent.”

“There is accountability behind the scenes,” he added, “but it’s not always visible to fans. That’s where frustration builds.”

Big Test, big chance

Now, Piardi has the chance to put that storm behind him as he steps into one of rugby’s biggest arenas — Lions vs Wallabies.

A high-stakes series. Millions watching. A ref under the spotlight.

Can he deliver?

Australia v The B&I Lions (Melbourne)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
FPRO: Marius Jonker (SA)

“Gone backwards” – Four Lions Whose Stock Fell During the 2025 Tour

The 2025 Lions tour was set to cement careers and create new legends. But not everyone made the cut.

While some players put on a masterclass, others got caught flat-footed — losing ground in the brutal battle for Test spots.

This isn’t just about form; it’s about survival at rugby’s highest level. Here are four Lions whose tour dreams have hit the deck hard, and whose careers now face serious question marks.

1. Fin Smith – From Rising Star to Watching From the Sidelines

Once seen as England’s long-term fly-half solution, Fin Smith's Lions tour has done little to advance his case — and may have set him back. Despite early buzz, he had a minimal role on tour and was left out of both Tests against Australia.

His only serious rival for a future Lions No. 10 shirt, Finn Russell, started both Tests — suggesting Smith was firmly third choice in the selectors' eyes.

What’s more, George Ford has re-emerged emphatically, leading England to four straight wins this summer (France XV, two against Argentina, and USA) and putting in vintage performances full of control, intelligence, and precision.

It now looks likely that Smith will return to England camp this autumn as a bench option at best, having gone from starter in the Six Nations to surplus in the Lions’ biggest games.

For a player tipped to take over the 10 jersey long-term, this tour may have stalled his momentum right when he needed to push forward.

2. Josh van der Flier – From World Rugby Player of the Year to Overlooked on Tour

Crowned World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year in 2022, Josh van der Flier arrived on the 2025 Lions tour with big expectations.

Yet, in a stark contrast to his stellar individual accolades, he hasn’t featured in any Test match squad, nor has he been named on the bench — with Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne preferred in the back row.

Despite showing his usual work-rate and skill in midweek games, Van der Flier’s role on tour has been largely peripheral, and with fierce competition for starting spots, his chances of appearing in the final Test seem slim unless the series is already decided.

For a player once regarded as a guaranteed Lions pick, this tour has been a clear step back, highlighting the brutal realities of elite squad selection.

3. Duhan van der Merwe – From 2021 Test Starter to Watching From the Stands

Four years ago, Duhan van der Merwe started all three Tests for the Lions in South Africa — a testament to his power, pace, and try-scoring instinct.

Fast-forward to 2025, and despite adding to his tally of tries during the tour, the Scottish winger has been left out of the matchday squad entirely for the second Test, overtaken by Blair Kinghorn in the pecking order.

Yes, Van der Merwe remains Scotland’s all-time leading try scorer, but his tour performances have lacked the spark and physical dominance that once made him undroppable. In midweek matches, he looked uninvolved, one-dimensional, and short on defensive intensity, while Tommy Freeman and James Lowe consistently offered more complete and rounded games.

His omission from the squad for a pivotal Test match is telling — a clear sign that his finishing threat alone is no longer enough to guarantee selection at this level. For a player once viewed as a Lions Test mainstay, this tour has marked a steep and very public fall down the ladder.

4. James Ryan – From Future Captain to Fringe Option

Once the youngest-ever Ireland captain and seen as a natural Lions leader for the next decade, James Ryan’s 2025 tour has exposed just how far his stock has fallen.

Long considered a lock-in (literally) for the Test team, Ryan failed to start in either match — and even his place on the bench for the second Test raised eyebrows.

Fan backlash said it all, with many questioning how he was selected ahead of Scotland’s Scott Cummings, who had impressed in midweek action. Ryan’s only meaningful involvement came against the Reds, where he delivered a modest 6/10 performance — solid but anonymous. Once famed for his physicality and work rate, he’s now struggling to stand out among a new generation of locks.

Joe McCarthy, meanwhile, has stormed ahead in the pecking order, starting the first Test and earning an 8/10 rating for his aggressive collisions and breakdown presence before injury cut his game short. With Maro Itoje and Tadhg Beirnemaintaining elite form, Ryan now looks more like a squad filler than a future Lions starter.

For a player once tipped to captain the Lions, this tour has marked a shift from expectation to uncertainty.