Rugby World Cup referee Craig Joubert treated unfairly, says Australia coach

Australia head coach Michael Cheika has issued a strong condemnation of World Rugby’s treatment of referee Craig Joubert.

The sport’s global governing body has admitted that Joubert blundered by awarding the Wallabies the last-gasp penalty that Bernard Foley kicked to seize a 35-34 victory at Twickenham on Sunday, robbing Scotland of a place in the World Cup semi-finals.

Pointing the finger of blame at Joubert is an unusual but not unprecedented step by World Rugby and Cheika – speaking on the subject for a third successive day – believes the official has been let down.

“I genuinely feel for Craig Joubert. It’s so unfair. No other referee has had this stuff put out there like that and he’s a very good referee,” Cheika said.

“I would have liked my mates to back me up a little more on the odd occasion, if you know what I mean. I feel for him. We talk about having the right principles in the game and all of that…

“Genuinely I have never seen that before. I am not sure why that decision had to be publicly reviewed and put out there.

“I really hope his fellow referees stand by him because – well, the fact I’m not allowed to say much about it says it all.”