Australian rugby fans fume at ‘disgraceful’ referee calls as Wallabies go down to Wales at World Cup

Australia coach Michael Cheika launched a furious attack on rugby chiefs over crucial referring decisions in the Wallabies match against Wales, which also left fans fuming.

Cheika took aim at ’embarrassing’ decisions during the Wallabies heart-breaking 29 to 25 loss in Tokyo on Sunday night. 

Cheika said he was confused by the interpretations of the ‘high tackle framework’ which has generated plenty of debate and several suspensions at the World Cup.   

Cheika said he was confused by the interpretations of the ‘high tackle framework’ which has generated plenty of debate and several suspensions at the Rugby World Cup

He said was ’embarrassed’ by the decision to penalise Samu Kerevi during a crucial moment in the game as Australia was seizing momentum. 

The hulking centre, who was Australia’s most effective attacking weapon, barrelled into Wales flyhalf Rhys Patchell while hitting the defensive line.

Referee Romain Poite referred the tackle to the Television Match Official (TMO) and it was decided Kerevi had led with his forearm and hit the Welshman on the chest then throat.

As a result a penalty was awarded to the Welsh team who converted a penalty goal. 

Cheika suggested Kerevi’s approach to the tackle looked remarkably similar to that of Fiji flanker Peceli Yato in the incident that earned Hodge his ban.

‘It was pretty funny, because I thought I had seen it before, might have been Reece Hodge, I am not sure,’ he said sarcastically.

‘When our player does it, we get suspended and then this time we get penalised. As a former rugby player, I am embarrassed about it. As a player, I am embarrassed about it.’

Kerevi said slow motion replays had worked against him, believing he had done nothing wrong.

Referee Romain Poite (pictured) referred the tackle to the Television Match Official (TMO) and it was decided Kerevi had led with his forearm and hit the Welshman on the chest then throat

‘I’ve been playing with that for my whole career. It’s the first time I’ve heard that I can’t lead with my arms and bump,’ he said.

‘The worrying thing is if he’s falling and I keep moving forward, which I would normally do, I could touch his head.

‘What do we do in that split second? … I might as well just stop.’

Rugby Union fans were also left stunned by the call.

‘Bad decision making, bad everything. Worst ref performance since Joubers. Just can’t stand rugby anymore,’ one fan wrote. 

‘Yes I agree with lots of you the referee was appalling he missed two yellow cards,’ another added. 

‘Amazing that All Blacks allowed to lead with forearm but no one else,’ a third replied. 

Another incident received the ire of Wallaby greats and rugby fans alike after Wales player Gareth Davies looked to be metres offside.

Davies ran onto a pass from a teammate and ran 50 metres to score. 

A ruling which left hitting out at the refereeing in the game, news.com.au reported.  

‘If you’re going to waste five minutes of the game checking a ball carry, you’ve got to check for an off-side, we haven’t seen enough replays to prove that it was an off-side but that there looks to me,’ former Wallabies star Stephen Hoiles told news.com.au. 

By not checking the video the referees allowed Wales to take a 15 point lead going into the half time break, a lead which the Wallabies were unable to chase down.  

‘When our player does it, we get suspended and then this time we get penalised. As a former rugby player, I am embarrassed about it. As a player, I am embarrassed about it,’ Cheika said