Rassie weighs in on cleanout controversy

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has given his take on the cleanout that helped the British & Irish Lions seal a dramatic series-clinching win against the Wallabies in Melbourne.

The incident came in the final seconds of the second Test when referee Andrea Piardi and his team decided that Lions flank Jac Morgan’s ruck cleanout on Carlo Tizzano was legal, allowing Hugo Keenan’s match-winning try to stand.

“That was a tough decision,” Erasmus said. “World Rugby came out and said it was the right call. If I were [Wallabies coach] Joe [Schmidt], I’d be disappointed; if I were [Lions coach] Andy [Farrell], I’d be happy. I can understand both sides. For us, it was touch and go – but once World Rugby rules, you accept it.”

Erasmus also revealed the late drama cost him a bet in the Boks’ internal score prediction pool.

“I had Australia by four points,” he said with a laugh. “I went 27-23, so I lost that one.”

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Meanwhile, World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin defended Piardi and his team, urging respect for referees.

“Given the nature of the commentary, we want to express our support for the match officials,” Gilpin said. “They do an incredible job under intense pressure. It’s disappointing when people suggest this means player welfare isn’t taken seriously – it remains at the top of our agenda.”

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Gilpin confirmed that the incident has been formally reviewed but said the findings would remain between World Rugby and the teams.

“We share with Joe and his coaches why that decision was made,” he added. “When the on-field call is try, there has to be something clear and obvious to overturn it – and they didn’t see that.”

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