Wallabies coach Michael has hit out at South African referee Jaco Peyper after a try-saving no-arms tackle by Owen Farrell went unpunished in his side’s 37-18 defeat to England.
With the tourists trailing 13-10 on the stroke of halftime, Australia lock Izack Rodda went charging towards the line only to have his progress halted by the English co-captain.
Cheika’s side had to instead settle for a Matt To’omua penalty to level the scores, only to fall apart in the second half as England ran in three tries to chalk up a record sixth successive Test win over Australia.
“We had three disallowed tries, because I’m counting that as one,” Cheika told Sky Sports.
“Not one referred back … maybe we’ve got to move Australia up to the northern hemisphere because the shoulder charge penalty … we went to the referees meeting in the first week after the South Africa game (against England).
“The referees categorically told us that should have been a penalty.
“If that’s a penalty, that one is three penalties.
“The idea the referee would say that our player ran in and shoulder charged the opposition is ludicrous.”
In a week that began with the players battling a sickness bug that spread through the squad, then the loss of star flanker David Pocock, followed by two players being stood down for breaking tour rules, the Wallabies were always facing an uphill battle against their old rivals.
The defeat was the ninth from 13 Tests in 2018 for Cheika’s side, who look a long way off replicating their 2015 World Cup heroics just 10 months from next year’s showpiece in Japan.
The tourists got off to the worst possible start when Dane Haylett-Petty’s attempted second-minute clearance was charged down by Ben Youngs deep inside the Wallabies’ half.
After then conceding a scrum, Australia’s defence was caught napping as Jonny May dived over untouched in the right corner.
The absence of Pocock was stark for the Australia, as they struggled terribly at the breakdown with England controlling the opening 30 minutes.
But the hosts had only two Farrell penalties to show for their superiority following May’s try.
To’omua’s penalty put Australia on the scoreboard, but they failed to cross England’s 22-metre line until a Jack Maddocks break in the 25th minute.
However, the Wallabies managed to grow into the game and looked to have scored a try from their first meaningful attack one minute later.
Samu Kerevi powerful run and pass and found Haylett-Petty who finished superbly.
But just as To’omua lined up to kick the extra two points, Peyper ruled the pass was forward via the big screen and awarded England a scrum.
Buoyed by that feeling of injustice Cheika’s men hit back with a try of the highest class from Israel Folau in the 36th minute.
Running on in support from fullback, Folau, latched onto an inside pass from Samu Kerevi and waltzed past Farrell and Youngs to touch down under the posts.
To add insult to injury, three minutes after the restart Farrell set up Elliot Daly for a long-range try.
Giant winger Joe Cokanasiga crossed for try as did Farrell, who also kicked three penalties and four conversions to put the game well out of Australia’s reach despite a late consolation from Folau in the final minute.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
"If the ball carrier runs into a stationary defender it is not a tackle. It is a collision. Play on" Farrell would have to have had pretty good brakes to be stationary at impact time, given the speed he arrived there at.
CUW
Roar Rookie
hands went back - which is the criterion as i understand the LAW :P @ soapit " does beg the question, just how hard is it to ref a game of rugby? " any type of reffing or umpiring is hard - but nowadays there is lot of help to refs. i got a feeling Peyper wanted to do away with TMO - and now that TMO cannot intervene , it got out of control. reminds me of a NZ cricket umpire ( forgot his name) who kept on giving runouts by naked eye despite the availability of tv slo-mo. once he gave Sanatha jayasuriya run out ; when it was replayed , Ian Capple on commentary said " i will hate to be hung on that evidence " - coz on slomo he was not out. rugger really needs to find the balance between ref and TMO. and stop home town replays. hardly ever it happens in cricket.
CUW
Roar Rookie
not sure if a shoulder charge is card. i think the contact matters to give a card. SBW got a red card due to head contact. but since then the refs have cooled down and issue a yellow if the other guy has no issues - which was the case in SBW Watson tackle. however - people shud not forget the Beale on 1/2 penny , though not a shoulder charge. the guy has been concussed for a week now - but there was no card. that is why Bret Gosper lost it and said there is a need for more cards.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Had to be both... 1) a probable try was prevented by illegal play... that's the penalty try. 2) the illegal play was a shoulder charge, which I believe these days, is an automatic card...
Wandering Aloud
Roar Rookie
Jameswm, From the law book... he must receive at least a yellow card if a penalty try is awarded. A penalty try is awarded between the goal posts if foul play by the opposing team prevents a probable try from being scored, or scored in a more advantageous position. A player guilty of this must be cautioned and temporarily suspended or sent off. No conversion is attempted.
jameswm
Roar Guru
It was a penalty try but not a card
adastra32
Roar Rookie
As a pom, I try to keep it polite when contributing on the site. However, I have to agree with the critical contributors about Cheika. He makes us traditional whingers look like amateurs. I'm guessing the pressure on him is building to a crescendo. For me, the refereeing was classic Peyper - inconsistent and sometimes bonkers. The Farrell incident was contentious but then so were others that get conveniently ignored - for example, the clear and present WB tip tackle that went unpunished. Letter of the law and it's a card. The forward pass calls were close but justified.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Getting in a new coach so they at least get the experience of a World Cup to allow them to learn and better prepare for the next one is a great idea to me. I feel that they have moved the new assistance coaches to the Reds as part of a plan for the next coach. If Cheika wants to turn it around, I would be looking at bringing those guys in.
Olly
Roar Rookie
I agree with this one. Foley at 12, Maddock thrown in against England with no games behind him. Forward pack bench selection was terrible. No impact players at all to try and finish the game. Who puts a a prop who is a test level rookie with no games behind him on the bench against England....a fool who has no idea what he is doing.
Olly
Roar Rookie
He was running across field not stationary and presented his shoulder as the first point of contact. It was a clear contest with no arm.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Hey Jeff, the ref call was correct against Italy. The guy was outside of the 15m mark before the ball had passed over the 15m mark making him offside. If he stayed within the 15m until the ball had passed the 15m then he would have been onside. Otherwise all the backs would be allowed to just stand up with the lineout. When the ball has passed the 15m mark, the lineout is over and everyone can rush up.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Shirley not.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
A card of any colour would have changed the game. Poor referring decision.
somer
Guest
Farrell clearly ran in from the side and shoulder charged Rodda. Given Rodda's size and the fact he was sat back on his arse, there's no way Farrell was a stationary bystander.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Because the are coached woefully.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
It was a metre forward... just how hard is it to see with your eyes...
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Hahahahahah
Dontcallmeshirley
Guest
The rule only applies to a tackle. If the ball carrier runs into a stationary defender it is not a tackle. It is a collision. Play on
rebel
Roar Guru
Put your hand up.
TimO
Roar Rookie
No other international coach carries on like Chieka, after every loss it's all this whining about how hard done by the Wallabies were. If you believed half of it, there must be some sort of international conspiracy going on. It's a fast complicated game, and a lot of ref's decisions are 50/50 and you take the bad with the good. And last night the scoreline flattered the Wallabies, because even though they have talented players, they are playing woefully.