Cheika fumes over Farrell shoulder charge decision

Michael Cheika was unable to hide his displeasure that Australia were denied a penalty try for an apparent shoulder charge by Owen Farrell in Saturday’s 37-18 defeat to England.

England earned a record sixth straight win over the Wallabies thanks to tries from Jonny May, Elliot Daly, Joe Cokanasiga and Farrell.

But Australia were in the ascendancy as the first half came to an end and were harshly not awarded the penalty try when Farrell seemed to unfairly challenge powerful lock Izack Rodda just shy of the try line.

That denied Australia the chance to lead at the break and Cheika says the incident was more blatant than Farrell’s last-gasp shoulder charge on Andre Esterhuizen in England’s contentious opening November international win over South Africa.

“Look, you can’t definitively say that [the game changed at that moment] can you?” He told Sky Sports. 

“But we had three disallowed tries because I’m counting that as one, and not even one referral back? 

“Maybe we have to move Australia to the northern hemisphere, because after [Farrell’s] shoulder charge [against South Africa] we went to a meeting with the referees and the refs categorically told us it’s a penalty, so if that’s a penalty then that’s three penalties. 

“To say he [Rodda] also dropped his shoulder is ludicrous.”

42 l Add another penalty to the board and we head into the sheds all tied up at 13-13.

Huge second half coming up!#SpringTour18 #ENGvAUS #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/hQ1iB8SQmV

— Qantas Wallabies (@qantaswallabies) November 24, 2018

Opposite number Eddie Jones was asked for his view, with the England coach jokingly replying: “The TMO is the most popular man in World Rugby! We’ll leave it at that.”

Cheika, though, conceded his side were soundly beaten.

“We needed to attack more, we gave too much ball away by kicking,” he said. 

“Maybe to try and get some field position, but let’s just get on and play some footie.”

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