Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has labelled referee Jaco Peyper’s decision not to award the visitors a penalty at the end of the first half of their match against England as ‘ludicrous’.
England beat the Wallabies 37-18 at Twickenham on Saturday, but were leading just 13-10 when flyhalf Owen Farrell’s shoulder charge on Izack Rodda prevented the Wallabies lock from scoring a try.
Peyper told Wallabies captain Michael Hooper at the time that Rodda had also led with his shoulder when going into contact.
‘England were the better team and had us under pressure for a long time, but we defended well,’ said Cheika. ‘However, the justification that Rodda tried to take him [Farrell] on with his shoulder is ludicrous, that is what happens when you carry the ball.
‘The other week at a referees conference they said that Farrell’s effort to tackle without the ball at the end of the South Africa Test should have been a penalty. Well, this was three penalties.’