World Rugby have refuted claims by Australia that match officials failed to act in the best interests of player welfare, during the controversial climax of the Lions’ epic victory in Melbourne last Saturday.

Since the British and Irish tourists snatched a 29-26 win at the MCG to claim a 2-0 series lead with one game to play, the sport has been ablaze with a furious debate about a late decision made by referee Andrea Piardi and his fellow officials.

Having studied replays of a ruck clear-out by Jac Morgan in the lead-up to Hugo Keenan’s decisive, last-minute try for the Lions, the Italian ruled that there was no foul play by the Wales captain.

However, the Wallabies were incensed and adamant that Morgan had hit Carlo Tizzano illegally high, on the neck. Head coach Joe Schmidt said: ‘Match officials make errors. We felt it was a decision that doesn’t really live up to the big player safety push that they are talking about.

'In a world of player welfare… It’s what they are there to enforce. A player who dives off his feet and is clearly beaten to the position over the ball, makes neck contact.’

In response, World Rugby – the global governing body – have expressed concern about the tone of Schmidt’s incendiary remarks.

World Rugby has refuted Australia boss Joe Schmidt's claims that match officials failed to act in the best interests of player welfare, during the climax of the Lions’ victory last Saturday

World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin explained it was 'disappointing' to see claims that the governing body does not prioritise player welfare

Gilpin threw his backing behind referee Andrea Piardi and his fellow offiials, after they came under scrutiny for awarding the Lions a last-gasp try to win the series at the MCG on Saturday

Chief executive Alan Gilpin said: ‘It is disappointing when the reaction is, “this means player welfare isn’t taken seriously”, because everyone knows we are putting player welfare, in its broadest sense, at the top of the agenda. So, that part is challenging, in terms of the player welfare statements (by Schmidt).’

Gilpin emphasised the need for a ‘respectful debate’, but asked if Schmidt could face disciplinary action, he said: ‘No. There's a lot of emotion, understandably. The Wallabies had a chance to win an amazing Test match, so we understand the emotion involved.

'Joe's comments have continued to respect the fact that the match officials have a tough job to do. He might disagree with the decisions that were made, but I don't think he's called the integrity of our match officials into question.’

The authorities are rallying around the group of officials on duty for this series – Piardi, Ben O’Keeffe and Nika Amashukeli, along with a roster of TMOs.

‘There is no other position on the field that is under the scrutiny our match officials are under,’ said Gilpin. ‘Those match officials are making something like 800 decisions in a game with the pressure, speed and complexity of all that.

‘We all know the breakdown is such a complex area to officiate. They've gone through their process. When the on-field decision is try and that's referred to the TMO, there needs to be something really clear and obvious to change that and they didn't feel there was.

‘We won't talk publicly about that decision. The decision’s happened, the game has finished, we'll move on, we'll share with Joe (Schmidt) and the coaching team why the match officials made that decision.

'Joe’s got a view about what was wrong with that decision-making, and there'll be a debate between them about that, so that Joe and his players can go into the next Test understanding how the game’s going to be officiated.’

Hugo Keenan's match-winning try came after Jac Morgan (right) controversially cleared out Australia's Carlo Tizzano (left) in the previous phase of play

Morgan is seen getting under Tizzano shifting the Australian backwards. Tizzano then fell away from the ruck, with Schmidt fuming after the match that the clear out was not legal

Tizzano received treatment following the incident, but referees found no fault with the way Morgan entered the ruck

Keenan (right) subsequently crashed over to score a match-winning try for the Lions

Gilpin confirmed that referee Piardi (left) and his officials were being given additional support following the controversial flashpoint

The last Lions tour was scarred by an infamous episode when South Africa’s then director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, publicly savaged Australian referee Nic Berry and cast doubt on the integrity of the match officials, which sparked uproar and earned Erasmus a ban. The saga shed light on the issue of what the officials and their families are subjected to and the toll it takes on them.

With that in mind again, Gilpin was asked if Piardi and Co are being given extra support and he said: ‘We are checking in on them. They're a great unit. They've been together on this tour as a team so they're looking after each other.

'I've said it a couple of times to people in the last couple of days, four years ago in the last Lions series in South Africa when the match official in the first Test was heavily criticised, the mental health challenges...

‘Wayne Barnes (former English referee, who received death threats after the last World Cup Final) has talked about it. We've got match officials who, when they're criticised publicly, are having their families targeted outside the school gates. That's not good, that's not fair, and that's not right, so we've got to support these guys.’

Both Australia and the Lions have been given an opportunity to review the last Test and clarify any issues with the officials, before the series finale in Sydney on Saturday, which will be refereed by Amashukeli. ‘Everyone exchanges clips and questions, looking for clarification,’ said Gilpin.

‘The key is always to do that process quickly enough that the two coaching teams can go into the next set of training sessions with the questions that they have answered. That is about today, really.’