Ugly spat as Cheika’s side are defeated RUGBY

AUSTRALIA’S season teetered on the brink of chaos yesterday after an angry fan tussled with flanker Lukhan Tui in the stands after a 23-19 loss to Argentina that condemned the Wallabies to their lowest-ever world ranking.

The ugly incident, played out in front of the television cameras, was quickly calmed with the ejection of the fan but it will do nothing to dispel the dark clouds that have enveloped the game in Australia.

Just over a year before the next World Cup kicks off in Japan, Australia, losing finalists in 2015 and twice winners, will be ranked seventh in the world after two wins in seven tests this season.

A crowd of only 16,019 turned out to watch the match on the Gold Coast and they witnessed Argentina show more desire to beat under-fire Michael Cheika’s side.

‘They out-enthused us,’ admitted scrumhalf Will Genia. ‘We were extremely poor. The coaches can only give us so many sprays and rockets up the backside.’

The Wallabies could still have won with the last play but winger Israel Folau ignored Bernard Foley unmarked outside him and went for the line, only to knock-on.

‘Plenty of opportunities and not taking enough of them, it’s pretty simple,’ said Cheika. ‘That last play sort of summed it up in a way. It’s in our hands and we didn’t make it happen. It’s one step forward and one step back.’

Cheika, was already under pressure after a June series reverse against Ireland and backto-back losses to the All Blacks.