'Complete joke': Wallabies dudded in 'disgraceful' World Cup 'farce'
Wallabies fans were in uproar during Australia’s clash with Wales, after Samu Kerevi was penalised for a fend-off that caught Welsh fly half Rhys Patchell high.
Kerevi was whistled for a penalty after his fend-off of Patchell appeared to slip up towards his opponent’s throat.
It was the third penalty awarded against the Wallabies in the first half, with captain Michael Hooper openly frustrated with match referee Romain Poite as the explanation for the penalty was given following extensive replays.
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Kerevi had his arm tucked in, but was ruled to have slipped upwards and made contact with Patchell’s throat.
Patchell missed the resulting penalty kick, but salt was added to the wound with Wales scoring a dubious try on a missed offiside call in the seconds before half time.
Gareth Davies took an intercept and raced away to score on the stroke of half-time, but replays appeared to show him well offside.
Wales led 23-8 at the break and Fox Sports commentator Phil Kearns wasted no time making his thoughts on the officiating clear.
“The whole refereeing display has been disgraceful,” Kearns said.
“Just embarrassing.”
While the Wallabies made errors of their own, including a turnover on the first phase of the match which lead to a field goal within the frst 40 seconds, fans were nonetheless outraged by the penalty against Kerevi.
Gordon Bray on Kerevi's foul play - "if this is a penalty, it's developing in to a farce"#AUSvWAL #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/uiHDYZJQgy
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) September 29, 2019
"That is terrible tackle technique..."
A must-listen conversation between Australian captain Michael Hooper and ref Romain Poite 👀#RWC2019 #AusvWal pic.twitter.com/CsKPEjelvk— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 29, 2019
Rugby now officially a complete joke. What a farce. Runners now have to protect tacklers doing stupid things.#AUSvWAL
— Mark Riley (@Riley7News) September 29, 2019
What's going on with rugby? You can't run into player and fend them off now? It's a contact sport. #AUSvWAL #RWC2019
— Arvind Hickman (@ArvindHickman) September 29, 2019
Hooper calling out Wales for their “poor tackling technique.”
“We can’t carry” if they keep tackling like that. 😬😬#RWC2019 #AUSvWAL— RugbyLAD (@RugbyLAD7) September 29, 2019
Horrible decision!! How can Kerevi control where the opposition tackles. Penalty for poor tackle technique. #AUSvWAL #rugbyworldcup2019
— Dean Mumm (@DeanMumm) September 29, 2019
I thought the emphasis was on the tackler going lower. Rhys Patchell goes low, as they want, he doesn't get a fend.
That happens hundreds of times a game.#AUSvWAL— Tim Cocker (@cocker) September 29, 2019
Cheika's going to take that penalty pretty calmly I'd say.#AUSvWAL
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) September 29, 2019
Wow, farcical scenes at the #RWC19 with Kerevi penalised for fending off a defender. That’s just ridiculous #AUSvWAL
— Simon McLoughlin (@simmomac) September 29, 2019
After the penalty was called by Poite and the TMO, Hooper couldn’t help but give him a piece of his mind.
“Can we not run into the tackle anymore?” he asked.
“That is terrible tackle technique, he’s (Kerevi) just done a very good carry.
“We can’t carry if that’s going to be the ruling.”
Wallabies comeback falls short
Wales raced out to a 23-8 half-time lead thanks to a combination of field kicking, sloppy play from the Wallabies and some contentious decisions from referee Romain Pointe.
Trailing by 18 points early in Sunday's second half, the Australians closed within a point entering the last 10 minutes, but couldn't score again in a tension-filled finish.
Wales ultimately prevailed 29-25.
The result means Australia are likely to end up second in group D and, if other results fall as expected, they'll face a daunting quarter-final against England.
