Michael Hooper weighs in on Jac Morgan clear-out

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has weighed in on Jac Morgan’s controversial clearout on Carlo Tizzano in the lead up to Hugo Keenan’s dramatic, series-clinching try in the dying moments of the second Test in Melbourne.

The British & Irish Lions clinched the series 29-26 in front of over 90,000 fans at the MCG, leading the game for just the final two minutes after the Wallabies – buoyed by the return of Will Skelton and Rob Valetini – took and held control for the vast majority of the contest. 

However, the key talking point post-game was a clearout by replacement back-row Morgan, which was reviewed by the match officials but not deemed to warrant a penalty.

Speaking on Stan Sports, Hooper said the clearout was at least a penalty and the final try should have been disallowed as a result.

“I can see what the referee is saying but there’s a penalty there. Whether it’s on head, on neck or going straight off his feet to the ground.

“I would say if that is minute one, that’s a penalty.”

Former Lions captain Martin Johnson disagreed: “I didn’t think there was enough there for a penalty that would change the game,” he said on Nine. “You have to be very, very sure to change the game on a ref’s decision.

“I thought it wasn’t a penalty.”

Speaking after the game, Morgan – the lone surviving Welshman on tour, admitted he was nervous during the TMO review of the ruck.

“I was an engineer six years ago. I decided to give rugby a go. It has worked out all right,” said Morgan. “I was a bit nervous there [waiting on the TMO review], I won’t lie.”

In the post-match press conference, a clearly seething Joe Schmidt, pointed towards World Rugby Law. 9.20, which states, among other things: “a. A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul” and “b. A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders.”