TMO in the spotlight: Controversy over Lynagh’s hit in the Lions’ defeat

Last week it was Jac Morgan, this week it was Dan Sheehan.The player’s effort from the British and Irish Lions was deemed legal to secure the first series win since 2013, but his teammate’s play was cited on Sunday morning by World Rugby’s independent citing officer, Adrien Menez.The Lions were unable to complete a sweep against the Wallabies, losing 22-12 to a committed Australia who did not let a lead slip, Joe Schmidt’s men completed the job on a wild night at Accor Stadium.A 38-minute delay due to lightning that threatened the Olympic venue may have derailed Australia’s quest for victory when they were leading 8-0. James Ryan was taken off the field with a head injury and the game was stopped. The Wallabies used the break to head towards a victory.

Brutal clean out from Dan Sheehan on Tom Lynagh. 😬

Lynagh was taken off for a HIA and did not return.#AUSvBIL pic.twitter.com/I1rJ3O4O4w

— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) August 3, 2025

They were able to achieve it after losing another young number 10, Tom Lynagh, due to what appeared to be a dangerous action by Sheehan. This will only increase the satisfaction.Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt praised the toughness of his young number 10, but this time the New Zealander chose not to add fuel to the fire.The way the incident was overlooked by Television Match Official, Marius Jonker, should be paramount for World Rugby and match review officials, as the image of Sheehan colliding with a defenseless Lynagh with his right shoulder quickly spread across social media.Lynagh was removed from the field for a head injury assessment just before halftime and did not return afterwards.

Australia played better ‘rugby in humid weather’. Sam Bruce explains how Australia was able to better handle the humid conditions in their 22-12 victory over the British and Irish Lions.

I haven’t really seen it properly. The game is over, I have a lot of respect for Dan and there are some things like that that will happen in a really physical contest.

Schmidt

Schmidt also said that they tried to play a bit in the first 30 minutes, but it was very difficult due to how difficult the ball was. He also added that they would take care of Tom and make sure he is fully fit after receiving that blow.While TMO Jonker didn’t see Sheehan’s hit on Lynagh despite the number 10 being taken off the field for a HIA, the South African chose to intervene after several other much less necessary incidents.

One of them was to highlight a loose ball from a change of possession by the Lions shortly after the resumption of play, when Wallabies scrum-half Nic White was able to disrupt the visitors’ backline movement.The players, the fans, and even referee Nika Amashukeli seemed puzzled about what exactly Jonker was trying to highlight.

Yes, again, I take out the fine-tooth comb and review the game later for another look.

Schmidt

Schmidt added that live they did not see Tom’s incident and probably saw it a little later, so he would prefer not to comment on it until he has seen it properly. He also added that there is always a difficulty for a TMO, as he is watching the main television broadcast and if he doesn’t detect it there, then he doesn’t access the other angles because everything happens very quickly.The Lions coach, Andy Farrell, said that “he hadn’t seen that” when asked about Sheehan’s incidents and then pointed out that there were “all sorts of rugby incidents that we could analyze”.Sheehan’s citation will be heard on Sunday, according to World Rugby’s “accelerated off-field sanction process”.