Former British and Irish Lion James Haskell has launched a passionate defence of Jac Morgan’s controversial clearout on Carlo Tizzano, which paved the way for Hugo Keenan's decisive try in their 29–26 win over Australia in the second Test. Speaking on , Haskell dismissed Australian outrage as unfounded:
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“Absolutely not,” he replied when asked if Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt had reason to feel hard done by.
“Honestly, I never get that passionate about stuff, but I could not believe from every fibre of my being that it was even a thing. The only bit of foul play and nonsense in that incident was the Australian player diving. That should have been red-carded because that is utter crap.”
Haskell was adamant that Morgan’s technique was textbook:
“That was a clearout I did every day, every game for 20 years. It is the only way to clear out; there is no other way to do it.”
His views were echoed by others from the Home Nations. Former referee Nigel Owens told BBC Radio Wales:
“It was the perfect clearout. I know some people in Australia are quoting the law and saying he is going in low. But if you are quoting the law, you have to recognise both players were low coming into the ruck.”
Owens added, “Jac goes in and tries to get in very low or underneath him to clear him out. So it’s textbook clearing out for me.”
Wayne Barnes, writing in The Telegraph, struck a similarly pragmatic tone, stating:
“Rugby is a dynamic game with lots of moving parts… but these things happen.”
Contrasting Views from Australia
Australian voices, however, saw things very differently. Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt didn’t hold back:
“We felt it was a decision that doesn’t really live up to the big player safety push that they’re talking about.
You cannot hit someone above the level of their shoulders, and there’s no bind with the left arm; the hand’s on the ground.”
Schmidt called on observers to consult World Rugby’s Law 9.20, which prohibits players from charging into rucks without binding and bans contact above the shoulders.
Former Wallaby Michael Hooper backed that view:
“I can see what the referee is saying, but there’s a penalty there. Whether it’s on head or neck or going straight off his feet to the ground. I would say if that is minute one, that’s a penalty.”
Commentator and ex-Wallaby Morgan Turinui went further:
“It was clear that they should have disallowed that try, so the Wallabies should have won that game.
You can be filthy about the decision, but you’ve got to look in your own backyard and go, you know what, that far up, we should have closed it out."
Support for Morgan from the Lions Camp
Despite the outcry, Lions head coach Andy Farrell praised Morgan’s intervention:
“I thought it was a brilliant clear-out, didn’t you? It depends on what side of the fence you come from, I suppose, but I can understand people’s opinions.”
Former Lions captain Martin Johnson supported the officials’ decision not to penalise Morgan:
“I didn’t think there was enough there for a penalty that would change the game. You have to be very, very sure to change the game on a ref’s decision. I thought it wasn’t a penalty.”
Media Reaction
Australian publication The Roar pulled no punches in an article titled "James Haskell’s atrocious personal attack on Carlo Tizzano is a disgrace", including lines such as:
“Quite simply, the north isn’t interested in what the laws actually say on this occasion: anywhere above the shoulder didn’t suit the narrative, it seems—couldn’t possibly be allowed to cost the Lions a Test match.”
The article went on:
“It’s ironic given that Tizzano is one of the hardest, most competitive back-rowers you’ll find, unlike Haskell, who was all meat and no potatoes.”
The Law in Question
Law 9.20, frequently cited by Australian pundits, reads:
“A player must not charge into a ruck or maul without binding onto another player.”
“Making contact above the line of the shoulders with an opponent is a dangerous play and is prohibited.”
Interpretations, however, continue to vary. And with the Lions now 2–0 up in the series, the controversy shows no signs of easing.
As Haskell concluded with typical bluntness:
“It is the only way to clear out; there is no other way to do it.”
EDITORS PICKS:
Four Changes Andy Farrell Must Make for Lions’ Third Test vs Australia
Now, all eyes turn to the third Test. Here are four changes the Lions must make to finish the job in style.
#1. JAMES LOWE
Despite a classy offload for Beirne's try and some composed moments, Lowe was error-prone under the high ball and defensively vulnerable once again. A mixed bag leaning heavily toward underperformance.
BALLS 5/10: "One good flicked offload to Gibson-Park. Spilled a high ball, early in the second half. Composed take and footwork, on 57 minutes. Great step and offload for Beirne's try. His best, and last, contribution of the game."
Planet Rugby 4/10: "His try assist was the highlight of an otherwise poor performance from the winger who missed three of his seven tackle attempts, conceded a penalty and struggled in the air. He is a big moments player and produced that with a brutal fend and offload, but far from a complete performance."
Telegraph 3/10: "Lovely offload to put Beirne over but was another disappointing display. A liability once again in defence and several handling errors."
RUCK 4/10: "Lowe has looked off the tempo in both tests and today was another story of that. He never got going and was exposed hugely in defence. In attack he was nothing to fear for the Wallabies apart from his assist for Beirne."
Replacement: Duhan van der Merwe
#2. BUNDEE AKI
Grew into the game and made a crucial carry in the lead-up to Beirne’s try, but defensive lapses and an avoidable penalty undermined his overall contribution.
Express 5/10: "Not the huge carrier he is with Ireland, ineffective apart from one second half charge"
Telegraph 5/10: "Grew into the game and his carry set the platform for Beirne’s try. Suaalii slipped past him for Wright’s try and gave up a really dumb penalty."
Planet Rugby 3/10: " Caught out defensively by both Jake Gordon and Joseph Suaalii and conceded a penalty that Lynagh duly slotted. He made an incredible break which led to Tadhg Beirne’s try, but it was rather mystifying that he went the full 80 minutes today as he was a long way off his best."
Replacement: Sione Tuipulotu
#3. OLLIE CHESSUM
Busy but largely ineffective, Chessum struggled with the physicality of Australia’s second row and couldn’t spark the partnership with Itoje. Lions missed McCarthy’s bite.
Planet Rugby 5/10: "Quietly went about his performance but was accurate and efficient in doing so. He stayed on the right side of the referee’s whistle but was guilty of four missed tackles and conceded a turnover. Replaced on 55 minutes."
RUCK 5/10: "Chessum was mainly a passenger and struggled heavily against Skelton and Frost in both physicality and tempo of the game. The Itoje and Chessum partnership just didn’t seem to click the way the Lions would’ve hoped."
BALLS 5/10: "Was kept busy, mainly in defence, in the first half. Solid lineout option. Made 13 tackles but missed four."
Telegraph 5/10: "Was busy without being particularly eye-catching. Felt that the Lions missed McCarthy’s physical strength in the exchanges with Skelton."
Replacement: Joe McCarthy (If fit)
#4. ANDREW PORTER
Anchored a dominant scrum and worked hard in defence, but key missed tackles leading to tries exposed costly defensive frailties.
RUCK 5/10: "The Lion’s scrum was mighty, and more often than not, Porter was the first to show that to referee Andrea Piardi, he looked okay in attack but looked better defensively, but was caught short for Gordon’s darting try."
Telegraph 5/10: "Targeted by Australia in defence with both Gordon and Suaalii slipping through his grasp for tries. Still made 16 tackles, but misses were big black marks."
Planet Rugby 4/10: "Beaten for two of the Wallabies’ tries in the first half as he watched Gordon sprint past him before missing a tap tackle on Suaalii in the build-up to Tom Wright’s try. Conceded a penalty, and while his work-rate was top tier, his mistakes were costly. He was fortunate not to be penalised at scrum time too."
Replacement: Ellis Genge
