Cheika: Bosses have spooked refs

SEETHING Australia coach Michael Cheika hit out at rugby’s governing body for ‘spooking’ referees, claiming he was ‘embarrassed’ by some of the officiating in yesterday’s defeat by Wales. Referee Romain Poite penalised centre Samu Kerevi after his leading forearm slipped into the throat of Rhys Patchell. ‘As a former player, I’m embarrassed about that decision,’ said Cheika. ‘He lifted his arm into the chest. I don’t know if that’s illegal or not to be honest. I don’t know any more, I don’t know the rules any more. ‘You’ve got to take care of players, but not to an extreme where you’re looking after players just for doctors and lawyers. ‘Everyone seems worried about stuff so much. It affects everything on the field, decisions on all sorts of crazy stuff. Then I heard that the English guy (Piers Francis) got off at his suspension hearing, and I go, “Wow”. ‘Administrators are spooking the refs and refs are afraid of making decisions. Referees are becoming ultra-cautious.’ Wallabies captain Michael Hooper suggested Kerevi collided awkwardly because of Wales No 10 Patchell’s poor technique. ‘He’s used poor tackle technique and fallen back. I don’t know what Samu could have done.’ Kerevi said: ‘I’ve been playing like that for my whole career. That’s the first time I’ve heard that I can’t lead with my arms and bump. I love my rugby league — the way rugby is going, I might as well join the NRL next, seeing how they police it.’