Jac Morgan has found another ally backing his series-clinching clear-out for the British and Irish Lions against Australia a week ago.
Former Ireland and Lions scrum-half Conor Murray has waded into the debate by backing Morgan and claiming it would spell the end for rugby had the Wales captain’s actions been penalised.
On the eve of the Lions’ bid for history and a 3-0 series whitewash in Sydney, Murray outlined his thoughts on Morgan and Melbourne in a column for The Irish Times.
He wrote: “As recently as Thursday, the Aussie media and Joe Schmidt were still complaining about Morgan’s clear out of Carlo Tizzano, leading up to Keenan’s try.
“Tizzano’s injury rules him out this week, and that is genuinely unfortunate, but if the match officials decided that Morgan’s removal of Tizzano was foul play, then rugby union, as we know it, no longer exists.
“We may as well abolish rucks and join the NFL, with big Line Men going toe-to-toe from upright stances.
“Watch any game, at any level, and you will find replicas of how Morgan removed Tizzano from the Lions ball. Even World Rugby, through CEO Alan Gilpin, has spoken: it’s play on, all day long.
“Rugby is a violent sport. Player safety is increasingly prioritised, after decades of it being an afterthought, but from grassroots to the pros, dominance at the breakdown is what differentiates union from American Football and Rugby League.
“I was surprised by the amount of ex-Wallabies queuing up to cry foul. Even the great openside flanker Michael Hooper leant towards Morgan “going off his feet”. We could find dozens of examples of Hooper doing exactly what Morgan did to shunt Richie McCaw or Malcolm Marx off Aussie ball.
“The breakdown is a dangerous place. Reffing it will never be an exact science. Morgan had a split second to remove Tizzano – “the jackler” – before he locked on to the ball.
“It was legal. The alternative was to penalise Morgan and the Wallabies would have forced a deciding third Test in Sydney. But we either prioritise sport or entertainment.”
READ MORE: Jac Morgan Stays on Lions Bench as Andy Farrell Goes For The Wallabies’ Jugular
Meanwhile, the Lions stand on the brink of rugby immortality as they head into Saturday’s third and final Testwith their sights set firmly on a clean sweep over Australia — a feat not achieved since 1927.
Andy Farrell’s side secured the series in dramatic fashion last weekend with a last-gasp try from full-back Hugo Keenan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, sealing a thrilling win that broke Wallaby hearts and sparked controversy.
Australia, who pushed the tourists all the way, believe Morgan’s involvement in the lead-up to Keenan’s try should have been penalised for an illegal clean-out — a claim that’s only added more edge to the upcoming finale at Sydney’s sold-out Accor Stadium.
Despite having already clinched the series, Farrell has made it clear there will be no easing up.
This is a Lions squad hungry not just for victory, but for history. They now have the opportunity to join the rarefied company of the 1927 Argentina tourists — the only Lions team to win every Test on a tour — and the revered 1974 'Invincibles', who went unbeaten through 22 games in South Africa, drawing the final Test under controversial circumstances.
The series win itself is already a major milestone. It marks the first time in 28 years that a Lions team has sealed a Test series with a game to spare.
Only two other sides in the professional era — in 1997 and 2013 — have managed a series victory.
READ MORE: Jac Morgan’s Clear-out Debate Rumbles On After Lions Edge Wallabies To Seal Historic Series Win
Yet Farrell’s men are not content with that. Rather than rotate in fringe players, the head coach has stuck with the core group who ground out the wins in Brisbane and Melbourne, making just two changes to the starting XV: Blair Kinghorn replaces James Lowe on the wing, and James Ryan earns a promotion to the second row after impressing off the bench last week.
Ryan’s inclusion suggests Farrell wants more steel in the tight exchanges, especially after Australia shaded the physical battle in the first half in Melbourne.
The head coach also dismissed any lingering questions over Australia’s place in the Lions' touring cycle — something that had been debated before the series began:
"Every single team, country, province, has their ups and downs but Australia – the sporting nation that they are – are always going to come back," Farrell said.
"That on the weekend is no surprise to us, and why we expect them to be better.
Have a look at the year they’ve got coming up. They’re going to be a force to be reckoned with, 100%, with all their experiences, come the World Cup in 2027.
“It would be tragic not to tour here. We’ve had a blast. To me it's insulting to talk about it in that kind of way."
READ MORE: Jac Morgan Ready To Grab Lions Opportunity As England Forwards Try To Strike Ruthless Tone
One player set to mark a special personal milestone in Sydney is Tadhg Furlong, who will make his ninth consecutive Lions Test start — the most by any player in the professional era, and only the seventh ever to achieve such consistency.
For the Wallabies, meanwhile, the third Test represents a shot at redemption. Joe Schmidt’s side came agonisingly close to leveling the series last week — just 51 seconds away from victory — and showed enough quality to quiet critics who questioned their status as a worthy Lions opponent. But the bruising nature of that defeat has left scars.
Star back-rower Rob Valetini misses out again with a calf injury, while prop Allan Ala’alatoa is also sidelined.
In comes Taniela Tupou, a more destructive presence at tighthead, though doubts remain over his match fitness.
Will Skelton, so influential early last week, starts again in the second row, while Tom Hooper replaces Charlie Cale at blindside.
There’s a sentimental note in Schmidt’s selection, too. Veteran scrum-half Nic White, aged 35, will win his final cap for Australia in place of Jake Gordon, who had impressed in Melbourne.
Injuries at hooker have forced further changes, with Billy Pollard starting and Brandon Paenga-Amosa called in at the last minute to provide bench cover.
Despite the setbacks, the Wallabies remain defiant, buoyed by a groundswell of home support.
Rugby Australia confirmed on Thursday that the match is a sell-out, with 82,000 expected at Sydney Olympic Park — a clear sign that public interest has only intensified since Keenan’s controversial winner.
