Cheika won’t blame ref after tip-tackle

Waisake Naholo was the centre of attention during and after the All Blacks’ Bledisloe Cup victory over the Wallabies last night for his incredible turn of pace which reaped him two tries, plus a tip-tackle on Israel Folau which could have seen him sent from the field.

In the opening minutes, the All Blacks wing hit Folau with a big shot but tipped him past the horizontal. Luckily for all involved, the Wallabies fullback put out an arm to cushion his fall.

It looked bad but referee Jaco Peyper awarded only a penalty to Australia. Yellow cards have been given for worse and predictably social media and some Australian publications were outraged at the tackle.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, however, refused to complain.

Asked if he was disappointed that Naholo, who scored back-to-back tries in the second half, wasn’t shown a yellow card, he said: “No, not really. There wasn’t intent there. Sometimes it happens, mate. Intent is important and he didn’t have any intent, it’s just the way he made the tackle and he [Folau] tipped up. We got the penalty.”

Both the All Blacks and Wallabies experienced some questionable decision-making from the television match officials during their respective June series against France and Ireland, but this time, there was little input from any of Peyper’s assistants, much to the dismay of the Wallabies supporters.

Folau was a danger in the first half but once the All Blacks got on top after halftime, he was less of a threat and he left the field with a rolled ankle. He is likely to be a big doubt for the return match at Eden Park next weekend, which is a big blow to the Wallabies.

Cheika, though, was more upset at Peyper’s scrum rulings.

In the first half, he was harsh on the Wallabies when either front row could have been at fault, although in the second half, the All Blacks were clearly in front in this department, helped by the absence through injury of prop Sekope Kepu.

“That was a bit weird,” Cheika said of Peyper’s decision-making.

“The scrum dropping to the ground could have been anyone. I’m not sure why the calls went against us.”

● Ryan Crotty, who left the field early after a clash of heads with midfield partner Jack Goodhue, is unlikely to play in next weekend’s second test in Auckland.

Winger Rieko Ioane, who picked up a leg injury, is also in doubt, the All Blacks confirmed late last night.