Wallabies woe? Reece Hodge in hot water over controversial hit

Fiji were fuming when Peceli Yato was concussed by a controversial Reece Hodge tackle. It was cleared by the TMO but is certain to be reviewed.

Reece Hodge could be in hot water for a controversial tackle. Picture: Getty Images

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Australia’s World Cup is off and running but already winger Reece Hodge could be in hot water after Fiji were left fuming when Peceli Yato was concussed by a controversial tackle.

Yato was forced to leave the field and did not return after being assessed by medical staff with the Fijians believing Hodge flattened him with a tackle using no arms.

The Fijian captain Dominiko Waqaniburotu immediately questioned New Zealand referee Ben O’Keefe about the legality of the tackle and he referred it to the TMO, Englishman Rowan Kitt, who deemed it to be okay, though the incident is certain to reviewed.

Tackling without arms normally attracts an automatic suspension but Australian coach Michael Cheika said he didn’t notice anything untoward about Hodge’s tackle.

“I really didn’t see it, I didn’t even see it in the game,” he said.

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Reece Hodge could be in hot water for a controversial tackle. Picture: Getty Images

“I saw the tackle, obviously, but the one thing I know is that the Fijian captain went up and spoke to the referee and asked him to refer it, which he did and it went to the TMO and he told him the tackle was fine.

“You‘ve got to go with what they say and I didn’t actually see it when it happened. I saw the contest, the collision, it was a massive one, a trysaver in that way but that’s all I do know about the incident.”

The Wallabies escaped their first match without any injuries but still with plenty to work on, although Cheika was looking at the positives after the Australians came from 12 points down early in the second half to run out comfortable winners in the end.

“Obviously, we’re happy to win — it’s the World Cup,” he said.

“We just needed to gather ourselves and get back to basics.

“We were prepared for a strong contest because we know the Fijians and how good they are.”

Nic White, Christian Lealiifano and Matt To'omua celebrates Australia’s win over Fiji. Picture: Getty Images

Australian fans will be more relieved than impressed by the Wallabies’ performance.

There were far too many mistakes and they took far too long to realise they needed to play a tighter game after being outplayed by Fiji in the loose.

There’s an old saying though that you can’t win a World Cup in the first match but you can lose one. Mercifully for the Wallabies, they managed to do neither and dodged a bullet they fired from their own gun.

Importantly, the Wallabies are all but assured of making the quarter-finals now, needing to win just two of their three remaining pool matches against Wales, Uruguay and Georgia.

Next week’s clash against Wales in Tokyo will decide who wins the group so the Wallabies don’t have time to waste if they want to make changes to the starting side.

Samu Kerevi celebrates scoring a try for the Wallabies. Picture: AFP

It’s most likely to be in the halves after Will Genia and Matt Toomua rescued the team after coming off the bench for Nic White and Christian Lealiifano.

“We’re looking for perfection. It never happens in this game but we got tested definitely,” Cheika said.

“I think they got us a bit on the hop early on.

“It was a good start.

“Pretty sure we are able to get bonus points as well so that’s positive in the context.”

Originally published as Wallabies woe? Reece Hodge in hot water over controversial hit