Cheika’s ire hits the wire

Michael Cheika’s displeasure with the officiating in the Test rugby series against England has reached new heights.

Australian rugby coach Michael Cheika and captain Stephen Moore, right, talk after their loss to England in the third and final rugby union Test.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made it obvious he has not been happy with the officiating in the Test rugby series against England but his displeasure reached new heights — literally — when the ball hit the wire holding aloft the Spidercam on Saturday night.

Australia had begun the second half with a precarious 18-17 advantage but as England pressed in the opening minutes of the stanza, a 42nd-minute kick hit one of the support wires holding Spidercam and skewed off course at Allianz Stadium.

It was the first time Spidercam had ever come into play in Test rugby, though Australian cricket captain Steve Smith complained of being distracted by the wires when he dropped a skied catch from Indian batsman KL Rahul at the neighbouring SCG in January.

Cheika admitted he was astounded when Welsh referee Nigel Owens called play-on instead of stopping play and setting a scrum, as the rules appear to dictate.

“It can’t hit the camera wire and [have] play on,” the Wallabies coach said.

“He said over the microphone that it was 50-50 for each team. No, if you’re waiting to catch the ball and all of a sudden it hits the wire and you’re out of position — and the ball has been kicked to us — I don’t see how that can be play-on. But what do you do?”

Australian captain Stephen Moore also was mystified with Owens’ ruling. “I think there has to be a clear rule about that. If it hits the wire there’s got to be an outcome.”

Yet the controversy didn’t stop there because soon after England kicked to the corner, giving Australia a lineout throw just five metres from their own tryline.

The plan was for Moore to throw it to debutant Adam Coleman, who had come on at the start of the second half and was preparing to catch his first Test lineout ever.

But the Australian skipper appeared to overthrow the ball and Coleman got only his fingers to it as it sailed over the back to England flanker Chris Robshaw.

He charged for the tryline and was just held up by the Australians. But from the ensuing scrum there was no stopping No 8 Billy Vunipola as he picked up from the set piece and barrelled his way through the tackle of winger Dane Haylett-Petty in the 44th minute.

But it came to light in the post-match press conference that there was an explanation for Moore uncharacteristic overthrow.

“There was little bit too much intervention because Moorey was throwing a lineout and the linesman was pushing him in the back,” Cheika said.

That was the one we missed down near our line. In the microphone he’s telling England to get out of the way so he’s telling the ref to tell England to move out of the gap and he’s pushing Stephen in the back while he’s throwing the ball in the lineout and he missed the throw.

“We held the guy up but they scored off the next play. Just let them be inside the gap, or penalise them but that intervention is not required. But when the ball hits Spidercam, then intervention is required. I don’t think anyone would think it’s a fair go after that.”

Discipline cost the Wallabies dearly, not only last night but throughout the three Tests with world-class England kicker Owen Farrell finishing with 66 points for the series, 45 of them coming from penalty goals.

“It I was to give our discipline a figure out of 10 it would be 5 or six, although there’s been no secret that I’m not been happy with the refereeing,” Cheika said.

Already his thoughts are turning to Australia’s next assignment, two Tests against the All Blacks in August, though after losing to Eddie Jones’ England in straight sets, he does not expect expectations will be nearly as high.

“I don’t think anyone is expecting anything to happen so we can just put in and work hard.”