British and Irish Lions 2025: Joe Schmidt on Jac Morgan clearout

Former scrum-half Andy Nicol also agreed that Morgan, who is the only Wales player remaining on the trip and was making his Lions Test debut, did “nothing wrong”.

Nicol told the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast: “He was always low. The ‘jackaler’ went in and put his head in a dangerous position and Jac cleared him out.

“I was watching in the stands and said if this is turned over, it’s the end of rugby.

“That was a classic rugby incident. That’s how Jac Morgan and every player is taught and coached to clear out a ruck.

“Just because the player went flying back and highlighted where it was on the back of the neck, that’s where real injuries happen so they are looking at it, but that was a perfect clearout.”

The Lions went into the game as favourites to seal the series after a comfortable first Test win in Brisbane, where they at one point led 24-5.

The Wallabies finished well there to lose 27-19 and continued that form into the second game in Melbourne.

Schmidt’s side grabbed three first-half tries – two in quick succession with England’s Tommy Freeman in the sin-bin – to lead 23-5.

A decider in Sydney, as there was in 2013, looked to be on the cards until the Lions fought back from 18 points down to win the game with the final play and get in front for the first time in the match.

Despite the crushing defeat, the Wallabies – who for the first time in their history failed to qualify for the knockout stages of a Rugby World Cup in 2023 – showed they were a worthy match for Lions.

“It’s painful, I’m so proud of the team and how we bounced back,” Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said.

“We played some terrific footy and to not get the result and go to a series decider hurts everyone.”