Cheika blasts ref for poor treatment of Pocock and Co
MICHAEL Cheika was left fuming at French referee Romain Poite in the aftermath of Australia losing to New Zealand for the second week running.
Aside from numerous incidents during the match which saw Poite often unable to control the players on the field, Cheika’s frustration started when, according to reports, he heard about a meeting that took place between his counterpart, Steve Hansen, and the French referee in the build-up to the match.
“I was bitterly disappointed to be honest,” said Cheika when asked about the refereeing. “I’m on record with the referees boss Alain Rolland about the treatment to our captain and our players by Romain Poite.
“There was a time there in the game where in a break in play, when the national captain of Australia was asking the referee when might be an opportunity for me to talk to you and he absolutely ignored him.
“The attitude showed right through when David Pocock was being called off by the other referee for a HIA test, the ref wouldn’t stop the game.
“The players almost went straight through to the doctor. I don’t know if it’s subconscious or not but it’s there and it’s got to be dealt with because that can’t be going on.
“No one is saying anything bad to him. If they’ve got pre-determined position on our players … it’s pretty blatant to anyone listening to the ref I would say.”
The All Blacks could be without Owen Franks for the rest of the Rugby Championship if he’s found guilty of eye-gouging Wallabies lock Kane Douglas as video footage suggests.
The tighthead is yet to be cited for the alleged offence but Cheika is certain of what he saw.
“We saw it at the time,” said the Wallabies coach. “I’m sure the match review officer will pick that up. It would be hard to miss.”