Australian coach Michael Cheika said Tuesday that World Rugby’s decision to rule that referee Craig Joubert was wrong to give a controversial penalty against Scotland would open up the game to more wrangling.
“I’d like my mates to back me up a bit more,” said Cheika, whose team would not have beaten the Scots on Sunday to reach the World Cup semi-finals without the last-minute penalty.
“We have the right principles in the game, but now will other teams be drawing up a list of things to review: the Samoans about a Scottish knock-on before their winning try?” he added.
“Each team will have a list as long as your arm. Genuinely I’ve never seen that before. I really hope his fellow referees stand behind him.”
Following an outcry, mainly in Britain, over the South African referee’s actions, World Rugby took the rare decision on Monday of releasing a review which said Joubert should have awarded a scrum and not a penalty.
“I really do feel for Craig Joubert – he’s a great referee,” Cheika added.