Rugby I'm so pleased referee held his nerve, says Lions boss Farrell

ANDY Farrell and Joe Schmidt took opposing views of the refereeing call that cleared Hugo Keenan's decisive final-minute try as the British and Irish Lions completed a series triumph over Australia.

- Duncan BECH Press Association

The Lions clinched a 29-26 victory in the second Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground but there was high drama in the closing seconds as the match officials examined a potentially-dangerous clearout by Jac Morgan earlier in the move.

Captains Harry Wilson and Maro Itoje attempted to influence referee Andrea Piardi during the decision-making process before it was eventually judged that Morgan’s contact with Carlo Tizzano was legal.

If Keenan’s try had been chalked off, the series would have gone to a decider in Sydney next Saturday. Instead, the Lions have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead.

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