The final showdown of the British and Irish Lions series in Sydney was anything but a genteel affair, as former Test referee Owen Doyle voiced stern criticism over the conduct displayed by both the Lions and Wallabies. The match deteriorated into a series of unsavory skirmishes, with key players from both sides at the heart of the fray.
Will Skelton and Nic White, notorious for their provocative style, spearheaded the Wallabies' aggressive tactics. Across the scrum, the Lions' contingent, including Dan Sheehan and Tom Curry, met fire with fire, refusing to yield an inch. The atmosphere was charged with continuous sledging and mock grins, culminating in Owen Farrell's heated exchange with Joseph Suaalii, which Doyle described as "an awful look."
"There was a very intemperate undercurrent throughout. Both teams wanted desperately to win, and at times nasty stuff surfaced,"
Doyle lamented in his column. He criticized the match as a "travesty of the sport," failing to embody rugby's core values of respect and sportsmanship.The Lions' behavior was also under scrutiny, with Doyle suggesting their premature celebrations from a prior victory in Melbourne might have spilled over into their gameplay in Sydney. "The Lions' objective was to win all three Tests, but they played as if the party had started a week early. Perhaps it had," he remarked, questioning the integrity of their performance.
Despite the chaos, Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli earned Doyle’s praise for his composed management of the high-tension game.
"Amashukeli was a very good choice for the final match of the tour. His calm assuredness was essential,"
Doyle noted, commending the referee's even-handed approach amidst the challenges of horrendous weather and match stoppages for lightning.Doyle's reflections resonate beyond the pitch, igniting a debate on the suitability of rugby as a sport for children, given the ferocity displayed. This game, Doyle argues, did little to advocate for the sport's value in nurturing young minds, potentially steering parents away from encouraging their children’s participation in rugby.