Jac Morgan was at the centre of the action on Saturday as the British and Irish Lions secured a series clinching 26-29 victory over the Wallabies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

With the Lions trailing 23-5, and then 23-17 at halftime, Morgan came off the bench to help complete the comeback for his side, as Hugo Keenan stretched to score the winning try with seconds to go.

The Ospreys flanker, cruelly overlooked for the first test, was immense, making five tackles and two carries. But it was his work at the attacking breakdown that stood out – and caused no small deal of controversy

Morgan’s desire to make attacking clean outs to help his team was highlighted in the final ruck of the game. Finn Russell, out of options, turned back against the grain to pass the ball off to James Ryan whose lack of momentum gave Carlo Tizzano the chance to get over the ball and secure the series levelling win.

In typical fashion, Morgan was first on hand to help his team, blowing Tizzano off the ball just as the Australian flanker got to the ruck. Tizzano threw is head back and pleaded for a foul, but by the time he had sheepishly got to his feet, Keenan had dotted down for the series-winning try.

Tension rippled around the stadium as referee Andrea Piardi consulted the TMO to review potential foul play in the lead-up. After a brief check, he ruled that the play was legal and the try stood.

Having been one of the players of the tour so far, it was a moment that Morgan deserved, even as he revealed his nerves to S4C in the aftermath.

“I was nervous!” Morgan said. “I thought I was all right, then I saw it.

“I’m quite happy. Chuffed! I don’t have the words. Happy. Chuffed to win!

“My family is in the corner. I’ve walked around and heard all the Welsh people here.

“It’s great. The support for the Lions is brilliant. I’m chuffed hearing everyone. I enjoyed it. I was a bit nervous as it was so close. But I enjoyed it.”

The reaction from the Wallabies was considerably different. Australia head coach Joe Schmidt called the decision an “error” and one that went against rugby’s “push for player safety.”

“I think everyone can make their own decision on that,” Schmidt said.

“Players make errors, match officials make errors. Our perspective is 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.

“That’s what we’ve seen, we’ve watched a number of replays from different angles. It is what it is, we just have to accept it.”

The Lions fly-half Finn Russell said Morgan, who came on as a replacement for Tom Curry early in the second half, produced a “textbook” clearout.

He added that he felt Tizzano’s reaction was to try to get the score overturned.

“When he goes down holding his head, there’s always going to be a question,” Russell said.

“But I think when you saw it back, it just shows that it’s a textbook clearout. I think it’s a brilliant clearout from Jac.

“He’s gone in there and Tizzano’s over the ball, which is a good play from him. But I think Jac’s just cleared him out really well. It’s almost the aggression that he cleared him out with.

“That’s what the question mark was almost. It shouldn’t be a question mark. He obviously holds his head and tries to get a penalty from it.”

The fly-half’s view is similar to the one held by Lions head coach Andy Farrell.

“It was a brilliant clearout. I couldn’t understand what they were going back for,” added Farrell.

“They seem to go back for absolutely everything these days, don’t they? I’m so pleased that the referee held his nerve. The right decision in my opinion.”

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