It was the refereeing controversy which had Wallabies players bewildered and fans livid but coach Michael Cheika could only praise his team for getting on with the job.
Many believed South African referee Marius Van Der Westhuizen blighted what was a quality Test match by overturning a scintillating Israel Folau try midway through the second half in Australia’s 18-9 win over Ireland.
Down 9-8 at the time, the Brisbane crowd was in raptures when the stand-out fullback crossed in the corner after Samu Kerevi forced a midfield turnover with a huge tackle and centre partner Kurtley Beale scythed through on counter-attack.
But their celebrations were short-lived as Van Der Westhuizen instead ruled a penalty to Ireland after Kiwi TMO Ben Skeen asked him to review a backplay incident while Bernard Foley was lining up the conversion.
Aggressive Wallabies lock Adam Coleman tackled decoy James Ryan, Ireland’s best on the night, in a crunching ball-and-all hit a couple of phases before.
Fans from both nations were stunned by the whistle-blower’s decision to deny the five-pointer as former Wallabies captain and commentator Phil Kearns exclaimed “the referee has lost the plot”.
While Coleman said there was a “fine line” in the decision, Cheika wouldn’t buy into the controversy after the intense war of attrition.
Instead he focused on the “character” of his players, who too often in the past have failed to cope with debatable calls, and how they kept their composure and continued their momentum.
“It is what it is,” Chieka said of the decision. “What I really liked was the way we reacted to that because we thought it was a try.
“I thought (captain) Michael Hooper managed that situation really well and we keep saying we have to build a ‘no excuses mentality’
“We just have to get on with it and get on to the next moment.
“We’ve got to get more consistent with that.”
Coleman owned his mild indiscretion, suckered in by a flat face ball.
“I probably overstepped the mark there a little bit,” he said.
“I was more proud of the boys how they responded. We really stuck to our processes and got an outcome.”
From there, the Australian pack took hold of the match, largely thanks to a dominant scrum that led to a Foley penalty goal for an 11-9 lead.
Hooper then made a bold call to take a quick tap rather than three points from their next penalty near the line.
It paid off with David Pocock’s match-sealing try about 10 rugged phases later.
“It was ballsy,” Hooper admitted. “We wanted to back ourselves and we thought it would change the picture.”
PiratesRugby
Guest
I think the tribe has spoken.
piru
Roar Rookie
It doesn't matter if it affected the try - foul play occurred and if it had been penalised at the time play would have stopped - hence no try. Not saying I agree with the call, but you can't simultaneously say 'that's foul play' and 'it didn't effect anyone so keep going'.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
To be fair he was very magnanimous in the last World Cup with ref decisions after the quarter finals. Wait...is there a pattern here...
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately the try is irrelevant. Once they deemed it foul play they had to go back. irrespective of what had happened regarding the try. The issue here is not the try being scored and then overturned, although that is what is sparking the outrage. The actual issue is whether it was worthy of foul play or not. Focus on that aspect and discussion.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
And always against your team too, they never get the rub of the green.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Rose not letting Jack on the door... ...what are we doing?
Machpants
Roar Guru
Brett's article on the Guardian very interesting. Cheika gave up the tactics to the players to decide and they said "stuff your stupid 'we'll only play the Ozzie ball in hand way ' idea", and we'll play to win! And it works! Amazing, what most Ozzie fans have been saying for years
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes we’ll have to see what he does when and if they lose. No excuses is fine after a win...I mean, there arent any required. When he walks the walk we’ll believe him. Starts at the top.
In brief
Guest
From memory both players got the ball at the same time so it was like a strip.
In Brief
Guest
Most rucks multiple players without the ball get tackled. Most matches multiple decoy runners get tackled. Should they all be penalties?
In Brief
Guest
No ship Sherlock - the point is decoy runners DO get tackled all the time with no penalty. The issue is that on this one occasion it was penalised.
Morsie
Guest
Moody's elbow to Beale's throat........
CHUCKED
Guest
Interesting headline and article, as Michael Cheika has led the blame and excuse culture since he took over. Well done if he has changed his ways, but the culture had sadly permeated into Rugby Aust since he took over Will be good to not see cheika calling Refs cheats in his box, throwing wobblies every time a decision goes against him, as he's instilling a No excuses Mentality Short money is it won't last a week
Lewis
Guest
14th minute Rodda was running as a decoy, next to the ball carrier that received the pass, and was taken by the Irish without the ball. The tackler went to ground but held on tight around his legs like an Irish terrier for about 5 seconds until the ball had gone and a ruck had formed elsewhere. Unsurprisingly play continued and no penalty was given against Australia. If they are going to start handling out penalties for so called “foul” play, then they need to be consistent. Last night’s refereeing was not consistent at all for most the game and that penalty for the Coleman tackle without the ball is the type of thing that turns people away from following Rugby. Unbelievably the tackle took place directly in front of Marius and was allowed to play on, 5 further rucks then took place until the ball was turned over and that then lead to the try, yet somehow the ref then disallowed the try based on an infringement he saw and initially deemed a non event by allowing play to continue. There were other terrible calls by the refs last night also, including the penalty against either Hooper or Pocock (Marius changed his mind it seemed as to who infringed over the next 90 seconds when questioned by Pocock) in front of the post which gifted the Irish their second penalty goal. Neither did anything wrong yet the ref saw otherwise. Then there was the 38 minute clearly backward pass that landed and bounced forward leading to a Wallabies’ break down field that was called back. I can go on. It’s just ridiculous how these professional refs, a team of them, can be so appalling sometimes and, unfortunately it seems, more and more often.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Jacko it had no baring on the try what so ever, that is my issue. Sure Coleman carried on a bit however to call back a try for imo a marginal infringement is wrong. In saying that, I’m sure Cheika will be telling Coleman to reign in the niggly stuff as he does push the boundaries.
Jacko
Guest
Worlds...what do you want tho....Is it ok for EVERY opposition player to tackle someone without the Ball??? What if all the opposition players tackled all players within passing distance??? I loved Bullrush where anyone tackled anyone but not test rugby as it would turn into kaos
jacko
Guest
Ok Darth so what happens if the team without the ball just tackles every player on the opposition team??? No penalty??/No foul play???? It was a tackle of a player not in possession and that is illegal...Also it was not the only 1 he did in this match
Jerry
Guest
A tackle without the ball is under Law 9 foul play. It's black and white.
Jerry
Guest
Maybe there's some guidelines not included in the protocol that say they can't review anything further back than the last break in play (they don't seem to do so), I dunno.
System of a Downey Jr
Guest
Good call. He's without doubt the worst loser in international rugby. But he is a gracious winner who doesn't get too carried away. And in regards to non-rugby issues I thought he dealt with the recent Folau tweet storm in a clear, thoughtful way. I'd say Joe Schmidt is up there as magnanimous winners.